Viola Bartek

On Thursday, August 17^th, Viola Zwernemann Bartek, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt, was called home by her Lord and savior to her eternal resting place.

Some knew her as Mama, Grandma, GiGiMa, or Aunt Viola, but all of us knew her to be one of the most loving and cheerful persons to be around.

Viola was born on April 15, 1935 by a midwife in Caldwell to Alfred and Emma (Wiederhold) Zwernemann. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Deanville, where she was still a member. On May 26, 1951 Viola and Joe Bartek were married in the Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Caldwell. To this union were born 5 children. They had cattle, hogs, chickens, and a big vegetable garden. The garden that they started is the same garden that she fed her family with for all of these years. They were able to eat fresh vegetables and she canned the rest. Joe passed away February 9, 2001.

Viola was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW since 1972. She served as President, Secretary-Treasurer and held many other chair positions. She was a member of Sons of Hermann since 1953 where she served as Secretary-Treasurer for 17 years and was also on the Finance Committee. She worked at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home in the laundry department, Perry Bros., and the Caldwell Elementary School Cafeteria. She volunteered at the Manor Nursing Home for 14 years.

Viola enjoyed gardening, sewing, traveling, canning, making homemade ice cream, baking kolaches and cheese and poppyseed rolls, and her family’s favorite…homemade beef noodle soup. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Emma Zwernemann; husband, Joe; son, Marvin; great grandson, Knox Story; brothers, Ewald and Calvin Zwernemann; sisters, Vilma Drahem and husband, Fred; Esther Elliott and husband, J.V.; and brother-in-law, Garland Bland.

She is survived by her son, J.D. Bartek and wife, Irene (of Flatonia); Marvin’s widow, Sheryl Bartek Castillo and husband, Eddie (of Austin); son, Carl Bartek and wife, Debbie; daughter, Lori Chmelar and husband, Darrell; and daughter, Sheila Bartek (all of Caldwell); and special companion, Daniel Perry; her grandchildren; Elizabeth Viktorin and husband, Eric; Darlene Bartek; Brandy Garcia and husband, Maxsimo; C.J. Bartek; Stuart Bartek and wife, Renata; Brittany Bartek; Adria Bartek; Mason Bartek and wife, Rachel; Mackenzie Bartek; Stephanie Roberson and husband, Michael; Allison Story and husband, Ty; and Dylan Chmelar and wife, Courtney; her great grandchilden Taylor, Tyler, and Claire Viktorin; Noelia, Andres, Carmelo, Mateo and Cinco Garcia; Jonah and Ava Bartek; Sophia and Lily Roberson; Palmer Story; her sister, Lorena Bland, and sister-in-law, Edith Zwernemann; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers are C.J. Bartek, Stuart Bartek, Mason Bartek, Dylan Chmelar, Eric Viktorin, and Andres Garcia.

Honorary pallbearers are Tyler Viktorin, Maxsimo Garcia, Carmelo Garcia, Mateo Garcia, Cinco Garcia, Jonah Bartek, Michael Roberson, Ty Story, and Frankie Flippin.