EDWARD E. BARTHELL III

After a long and full life, Edward East Barthell passed away peacefully on March 19, 2016 at his home in Neenah at age 83. He courageously battled Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years. Ed was born on January 23, 1933 in Evanston, Illinois, son of Edward East Barthell, Jr. and Harriet Lyon Barthell. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois. Ed was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

Ed married his high school sweetheart, Nancy, in 1954 and they enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Ed served in the Army for two years and was stationed in Panama, where he and Nancy had the first of their five children. He had a thirty-year career with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, moving to various areas around the country and eventually settling with his family in Neenah in 1968. The last 10 years with KC he worked as the director of international marketing and traveled to 21 countries. Afterward he founded a high tech electronics business in Cedarburg, Wisconsin where he worked for eight years.

Ed had a wide variety of interests and was always working on projects. He built home additions and furniture, electronic devices and even a television. He loved spending time with his family, coached for his sons’ sports teams, and spent time with both children and grandchildren swimming, sailing, and fishing at the family’s vacation home in Lake Mills. Although he lived in Wisconsin, he remained a loyal fan of the Chicago Bears, much to the chagrin of his children.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Patty Myers; and brother-in-law, James Ackermann. Surviving relatives include wife, Nancy; sister, Polly; brother, Peter; and sisters-in-law, Kay Ackermann and Susan Escher. Children include Edward (Marie) and sons Ted and Tom of Mequon, WI; Bonnie (Dean) Westman and children Lea, Nickolas, and Claire of Los Gatos, California; Robert and son Bobby of Neenah; William (Yoshiko) and sons, Anthony and Will of Saratoga, California; and Jane (Ned) Gustafson and children Henry, George, Sid and Ann of Edina, Minnesota