Clifford Bartz

Clifford Bartz, age 99, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Wednesday, February 2nd, at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 8th, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in McIntosh with the Rev. Bruce Blocker officiating. Interment will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in the spring. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Monday, February 7th, and or one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. All visitation will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in McIntosh. Military honors will be provided by Spring Lake V.F.W. Post #2759 of Lengby and the National Guard Honors Team. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of McIntosh and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Clifford Frederick Conrad Bartz was born on July 15, 1922, at home in King Township, rural McIntosh, Minnesota. Clifford was the 7th of 14 children born to parents William and Emma (Polley) Bartz. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in McIntosh and attended country school through the eighth grade. He worked for various farms in the McIntosh area while he was growing up.

Clifford entered into active service with the United States Army on April 21, 1943. He served his country during World War II and was stationed in the European Theatre as an anti-aircraft artillery crewman. He received his honorable discharge on January 25, 1946, and returned home.

After the service, he worked in Montana, International Falls, and Itasca Park cutting logs and also worked as a farm hand on local farms. It was in the McIntosh Co-op Creamery that he met a beautiful young lady while she was candling eggs. Her name was Betty Ione Halvorson. Clifford and Betty were united in marriage at the Hope Lutheran Church parsonage in Fosston on December 28, 1948, by Rev. Megordon.

After their marriage, they began their life together living and farming northeast of McIntosh. In 1951, they purchased a farm in King Township not far from the home where Clifford was born. To their union, three children were born, Beverly, Clayton, and Curtis. Betty passed away on October 15, 1997. Clifford remained active in farming, helping his sons until nearly the current time and was still living at his home.

Clifford and Betty ordered a grandfather clock (in pieces) from a clock company in Pennsylvania and he and Betty put the clock together in the living room that same year.  It stands about 7 feet tall and dad used special mittens to pull the chains to run the clock.  Oil on chains from fingers would damage the chains and cause the time to slow.

Clifford was active in his church and community. He was a life-long member of Immanuel Lutheran Church where he had been on numerous church boards through the years. Clifford’s parents were charter members of the church. He was a Lifetime Charter Member of the McIntosh V.F.W. (#4 on the charter membership roll). He served on the King Township Board for over 50 years; the Cenex Co-op Board, and the East Polk County Fair Board for over 20 years.

He was a very talented man in many respects. He liked sewing and quilting; and could build and fix almost anything. He helped his wife, Betty, with quilts and, while in the military, sewed on service members sleeve stripes. (two pennies a stripe). He was deeply honored to be a part of the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2009 to see the World War II Memorial. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a respected family role model for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Clifford will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his entire family.

Clifford passed away peacefully, with his family by his side, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at Essentia Health Hospital in Fosston at the age of 99 years, just 5 months and 12 days short of his 100th birthday.

Survivors include three children, Beverly (Pete) Anderson of Gully, MN, Clayton (Carol) Bartz of McIntosh, and Curtis (Judy) Bartz of McIntosh; 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, Michael Anderson & his children, Megen and Sophia; Julie Anderson; Elizabeth (Tim) Bertsch & their children, Ruby and Anderson; Christopher (Amy) Bartz & their son, Carter; Casey Bartz; Cody (Ashleigh) Bartz & their children, Sunny and Cedar; Joshua (Margaret) Bartz; and Bobbi Jo Bartz.

Also surviving is one sister, Jeanne (Lyle) Puffe of Grand Forks, ND; sister-in-law, Bev Bartz of Sleepy Eye, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; his parents; and 12 siblings, Henry, Edwin, Esther, Helen, Margaret, Ray, Harold, Dorothy, Wilma, Loretta, Bernice, and Richard.