Mark F Bartling

Pastor Mark Frederich Bartling, of Onalaska, died at his home with his family by his side and his nephew Joseph Kinstler reading the 23thrdth Psalm. Pastor Bartling was born on Jan 10, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois to Pastor F.E. Bartling and Vera nee Schultz.

He was brought into the Kingdom of God's Grace through the water and words of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on Jan 29, 1939. He was baptized by his father in St. Marks Lutheran Church, Chicago. He later confessed his baptismal covenant by the sacred rite of confirmation, in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Ill. -- vowing and promising that he believed the doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church to be the true and correct teaching of Holy Scripture as set forth in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther and that he was willing to suffer everything, yes even death itself, rather than fall away from these doctrines and teachings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

He enrolled in Northwestern Prep school, Watertown and graduated in 1958. Mark then attended Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato for one year. He then entered the pre-seminary depart of Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois and continued in the seminary, graduating in 1964. His vicarage was at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. During the summers of his seminary years, he earned a B.A. degree from Valparaiso University.

Upon graduation from the Seminary, Pastor Bartling accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church, an independent old Missouri congregation, in Crete, Illinois, serving as an assistant to Pastor A.T. Kretzmann. He was ordained into the office of the Holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament by his father and Pastor C. A. MacKenzie. Here he vowed that he believed the Bible to be the very Word of God without error or contradictions and that the Confessions of the Lutheran church contained in the Book of Concord of 1580 to be a true exposition of the teachings of the Bible and a correct exhibition of the doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and not to depart, even a finger space, from these doctrines. Pastor Walter Otten of Brookfield, Ill. preached the sermon and Pastors A.T. Kretzmann and Paul Burdorf assisted in the ordination service and the laying on of hands.

In 1966 Pastor Bartling accepted a Call to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan as assistant pastor under Pastor C.A. MacKenzie and to teach history and religion classes in their upper school, grades 9-12. Pastor MacKenzie was the Administrator of the newly formed Lutheran Churches of the Reformation and for him Bartling traveled to various parts of the country and established a mission congregation in Delhi, Ontario Canada, often preaching there on Sunday evenings.

In 1968 he accepted a call to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Grant Park, Illinois. In 1970 he and the congregation joined the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. While at Grant Park, he began teaching in the junior high school department at Trinity, Crete, under Principal John Schibbellhut.

In 1974 he accepted a Call to teach at Luther High School, Onalaska, Wisconsin. He also served as Vice-Principal and for one year acting Principal. He taught courses in religion and history and established the courses of Western Civilization and History of Christian Thought. In 1980 he earned an STM (master of Sacred Theology) degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

In 1987 Pastor Bartling accepted the Call as pastor of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, LaCrosse, serving there until retirement in 2000.

He served the church as circuit pastor and a member of the Synods committee to prepare for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the birth and baptism of Dr. Martin Luther in 1984. He also was a member of the Board of Control of Luther High School and served for a number of years as chairman. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Gods Word to the Nations Bible Society, which published a new translation of the Bible, Gods Word.

Pastor Bartling loved traveling and visited many times countries in Europe. In 1976 he founded the European Study and Travel Club and led tour groups to Europe, the Holy Land and other areas of the world. He worked as a travel consultant for Nawas International Travel Company.

The Lord of the Church called him to receive the Crown of Life on Wednesday, January 23, 2013. Christian burial will take place on Friday, January 25th at 11:00 AM from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, La Crosse. Pastor David Leistekow and Pastor Roy Hefti will officiate. Family and friends may call at the church on Friday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. His earthly tabernacle will be placed in God's acre in Onalaska City Cemetery.

Those left to mourn his departure are his dear and supportive sister, Rhoda and her husband Clyde Wobeck. Two wonderful and helpful nieces: Martha Witt and her husband Dr. Steven Witt and their children, Jacob, Rachael, Isaiah, Noah, and Hanna: and Ruth Kinstler and her husband, Navy Commander Daniel Kinstler and their children, Rebecca, Joseph, and Sarah, a nephew Matthew Wobeck and his son, Gideon, and many, many good friends both here in LaCrosse and elsewhere.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Otto and Ada Schultz and his father Pastor F.E. Bartling and his mother, Vera.

His trials and his grief are past

A blessed end is his at last

he bore Christ's yoke and did His will

And though he died he liveth still.

VIVIT



In place of flowers monetary memorials may be sent to Luther High School, building fund, new chapel, or Immanuel Lutheran Church needy family fund.