Roy D. Bartels, Sr., age 64, of Shumway, Illinois passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 9, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pagel Funeral Home in Edgewood, Illinois. Funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at Pagel Funeral Home in Edgewood, Illinois. Pastor Jeff Pope will be presiding. Interment will follow at Stewardson Cemetery in Stewardson, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to Pagel Funeral Homes to offset funeral expenses.

Roy was born on July 13, 1960 in Salem, Illinois to Wilbur Roy Bartels and Virginia Mae Hutton. He married Katherine Mae McGinnis on November 25, 1983 at the Jewett Christian Church in Jewett, Illinois. Roy had a strong faith, he loved God and attended Crossroads Free Will Baptist Church in Effingham for years. He loved spending time outdoors going camping, fishing, hunting, or just riding around on his four-wheeler or going for a cruise on his motorcycle. His greatest joy in life was his family, and he spent as much time with them as possible, and especially loved aggravating them, in particular his grandkids. Roy was known for talking too much, and never met a stranger; he could be found having in-depth conversations with anyone he met, even in the middle of the grocery store. He also loved to go through the McDonald's drive through and grab a cold Coca-Cola with his grandson Dreyden whenever he could.

Roy is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Kathy Bartels; sons, Roy Dean Bartels, Jr. of Stewardson, Illinois, Jeremiah Bartels (Kamryn) of Shumway, Illinois; grandchildren, Dreyden Bartels, McKenzi Bartels, Evelyn Bartels; sisters, Karen Anderson (Kevin) of Ottawa, Illinois, and Rose Bartels (fiancé Eric) of Stewardson, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur Bartels and Virginia Bartels, as well as his sister, Sara Bartels who died in infancy.