William Barteldes

William Christopher ‘Chris’ Barteldes, 74, Lawrence, Barteldes died Sunday, June 27, 2021, at LMH Health.

Chris was born December 23, 1946, in Lawrence, the son of Ben August and Stella Jean Haines Barteldes. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964 and went on to earn both a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's degree from the University of Kansas. He taught Spanish for fourteen years, later becoming a real estate broker. Chris also served on the board of directors of a bank his maternal grandfather started in 1915. In his retirement, Chris spent part of the year in Scottsdale, Arizona, and enjoyed collecting cars as well as autographs and memorabilia from historical figures, athletes, and celebrities.

He was an active member of the Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary Club, and had many friends in town who will miss Chris's original jokes and ‘show and tell’ from his collections.

Chris became a generous supporter of many local non-profit organizations, including the LMH Health Foundation, the Douglas County Community Foundation, the University of Kansas Endowment Association, Boys & Girls Club, CASA, and the Lawrence Arts Center.

The Barteldes family has a significant legacy in Lawrence. In 1860, six years after the first settlers arrived in Lawrence, Friedo Barteldes, Chris' great uncle, was the proprietor of a small grocery business on Massachusetts Street. Under the Barteldes family's leadership, the company became the Kansas Seed House, the largest seed firm west of the Mississippi. In 1906, the Kansas Seed House was incorporated as the Barteldes Seed Company.

Barteldes Seed Company was located at 804 Massachusetts Street, which is now occupied by Sunflower Bike Shop. In 1863, the building was heavily damaged in Quantrill's Raid, and Barteldes was the first shop owner to rebuild. For many years, the Barteldes family also processed and marketed popcorn under their registered name TNT Food Products, Inc., which was formed in 1952 and was later purchased by A&P Grocery.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Chris by supporting your favorite local charities