Marvin P. Bartel

Marvin P. Bartel, age 87, passed away on November 18, 2024 at his home in Goshen, Indiana. Marvin was born on January 26, 1937 to Linda (Penner) Bartel (1902-1941) and Henry H. Bartel (1901-1977). He descended from immigrant farmers and farmer-preachers from Prussia, now Poland. He grew up on a farm in Hillsboro, Kansas with his older brothers, Floyd (1929-2017) and Alfred (1932-1948). After the death of his mother, his father married Dora Ewert (1911-2000) in 1943, and his brother Dean was born in 1946. Growing up on the farm seeded Marvin’s enduring enjoyment of gardening and fishing and provided early practice in finding creative solutions to problems large and small.

After graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1955, Marvin attended Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. He graduated in 1960 with an art degree. At Bethel, he met nursing student Delores Suderman (1935- ); they married on November 27, 1958. Over the next 10 years, the growing family lived in Topeka, Newton, and Lawrence, Kansas, as well as Kirksville, Missouri, as Marvin taught at Topeka High School, Bethel College, and Northeast Missouri State College (now Truman State University) and completed his 1-W service by working as the Director of Arts and Crafts at Newton’s Prairie View Psychiatric Hospital. At the same time, he completed his masters (1964) and doctoral (1970) degrees in art education from the University of Kansas. In his early artwork, Marvin explored drawing, painting, and jewelry-making before ultimately focusing on ceramics. In 1970, Marvin and his family moved to Indiana, where he joined the Goshen College art faculty and was an active member of Eighth Street Mennonite Church.

At Goshen College, Marvin taught courses in ceramics, art education, photography, and architectural design. His artwork was shown in many solo and joint exhibitions. It is part of the permanent collection of the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart, Indiana; the Tulip Tree Nature Center in Ligonier, Indiana; the Vera I. Mott Memorial Collection in Columbia, Missouri; and the Haan Museum of Indiana Art in Lafayette, Indiana. His studio was a stop on the annual Michiana Pottery Tour, which began in 2012. Along with his physical creations, the vibrant pottery scene that was established by Marvin with his many ceramics students (chronicled in the 2020 book, “The Michiana Potters,” by Meredith A.E. McGriff) serves as an enduring legacy to the local community.

Running through all of his endeavors was Marvin’s belief in the importance and power of creativity, not just for artists, but for everyone. He was especially delighted to unleash and nurture the creative process in children. He shared this passion with his children and grandchildren, as a volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club of Goshen (2013-2019), and with any willing child who visited his home. He amplified the impact of this mission through his teaching of future elementary art teachers throughout his career at Goshen College and in numerous domestic and international workshops for art educators following his retirement from formal teaching in 2002. In these venues, he urged current and prospective art teachers to limit demonstrations and examples and instilled the value of asking questions and his “try it and see” approach to fostering creativity. He posted pictures of his artwork on his website, http://bartelart.com/ , where he also published essays and educational resources, including the “Top Ten Creativity Killers.” He self-published a book for children on learning to draw and authored “My Own Picture Book about Getting Older,” published by Faith and Life Press, which provides drawing prompts for children.

Marvin will be deeply missed by Delores, his wife of 66 years; his children David Bartel (Sabbi Lall), Bonnie Bartel (Seiichi Matsuda), and Beth Bartel (Christopher Miller); his grandchildren Steven Bartel, Aaron Bartel, Laura Bartel, Ella Matsuda (Jade Tonos), Emma Weaver (Luke MacCormick), and Luke Bartel; his brother Dean Preheim-Bartel; his sisters-in-law Gwen Preheim-Bartel, Justina Neufeld, Elvera Suderman, Judy Beechy, and Helga Edvardsen-Dyck; his nieces and nephews; his many friends; and his countless former students.

A memorial service is being planned for January 11, 2025 at Eighth Street Mennonite Church (visitation at 9:30-10:30 am; service at 11:00 am). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eighth Street Mennonite Church Preschool https://8thstmennonite.org/marvin-bartel-memorial-gift-to-the-eighth-street-preschool/