David Walter Bartemes

Born in the Green Hills of West Virginia on August 7, 1938, David Walter Bartemes was the son of Frances Roberts Bartemes and Walter Joseph Bartemes. He died on October 11, 2023 in Des Moines.  Dave was a man of action who always had a project spinning in his head.

Dave graduated from Charleston Catholic High School and West Virginia State College (University) where he met his “pretty lady” Cora Perrine. They married in 1961 and last April they celebrated sixty-two years of sharing the grand adventure of life. They were blessed with three sons who made them proud grandparents to nine and great-grandparents to two.  Dave’s service in the Army took them to Germany and his later employment as branch manager for Honeywell brought them to Des Moines.

Dave’s lifelong passion was planting trees which he had done in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and finally on his dream farm, Dave’s Hardwood Trees, in southern Iowa, where he had planted 30,000 hard wood trees to preserve the land and bless the future. Dave was also a woodworker, and his family will treasure the many beautiful cedar chests, clocks, tables and chairs that he created. His artistry is also shown in the reliquary for St Pius X at St Pius Church, which he created.

Dave was a Catholic Christian who took seriously Jesus’ command to feed the hungry and visit the imprisoned. He was ordained a Deacon in 1986 and served at St Pius X Church in Urbandale and Christ the King Church in Dunbar, West Virginia. Through many years, he ministered to the women and men at Mitchellville and Newton Correctional facilities.

Dave was a loving family man, who leaves behind his wife, Cora of Urbandale; his sons, Kevin (Barb) of Altoona, Paul (Kathy) of Austin, MN, and Brian (Maria) of Urbandale; nine grandchildren, Benjamin, Julia (Nate), Theodore (Mary), Jessica (Khashi), Elena, Joseph (Hannah), William, Cecelia (Drew) and Joshua; two great-grandchildren, James and Cameron and his dear sister, Mary Frances Bartemes Carlton. He is preceded in death by his brother, John.

On Sunday, October 15, 2023, family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at St Pius X Catholic Church, 3663 66th St., Urbandale. There will be a wake service at 6:00 PM, followed by a Story Time at which all present will be invited to tell a story of life they shared with Dave.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church. A luncheon will follow at the Church.

Memorial donations may be made to Emmaus House or to the Urbandale Food Pantry.