Melody J. Bartel

Melody Josephine Bartel, of Altoona, Iowa, passed away after a brief time under the care of hospice on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital’s ICU, surrounded by her loved ones. Many had the opportunity to visit and be blessed by her in her final days.

Melody was born June 9, 1943, in San Diego, California. Her family lived on a small family farm in Kansas until she was about 4, and then they moved to Houghton, Michigan where her mother’s family, the Vondette’s and Haggard’s, were from. Her mother remarried Leonard Robert, a professor from Michigan Tech, who adopted Melody and her siblings.

She grew up on the shores of Lake Superior spending a lot of time outdoors, as she loved the beach with friends and ice skating. She often visited her beloved grandmother and her uncle’s restaurant, which was host to a secluded speakeasy back in the day. Her aunt and uncle lived upstairs and she babysat for them and others often. She also worked at the local movie theater, the stand at the beach, and she mucked out horses in exchange for free lessons and riding hours.

After graduating high school in 1961, she lived on campus at St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Davenport, Iowa. Graduating in 1964 with a Registered Nursing Degree #037077, along with a Co-Degree in Specialty Core Sciences and Humanities Nurse Support from Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois. In 1981-1982, Melody was stationed in Fort Sam, Houston, TX, where she trained as an Army Nurse. She graduated as an Officer. She served as a Captain at Camp Dodge’s Army Medical Division for 5 years. From 1983-1986, she attended College of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois where she specialized in insurance courses and she earned her B.S.N. She also took summer law classes, along with her husband, at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1987-1988, where she received what she called her “Legalese Degree”. She earned her Florida State Board of Nursing License #3166122 in Tampa, Florida in 1996, along with taking multiple continuing education courses through the early 2000s. Melody was a Nurse to the core. Serving others with love, compassion, and dignity is Her Legacy.

Melody started her nursing career in 1964 at The University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, Iowa in the Ophthalmology Surgical Unit. She served as: Head Nurse/Shift Supervisor in Surgical Unit and Emergency Room at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, with Dr. Greenleaf as a Nurse Urology Assistant, Director of Nursing at Woodward State Hospital, Head of Labor and Delivery at Boone County Hospital, D.O.N. at Altoona Manor Nursing Home, Nursing Staff Director at Skiff Memorial Hospital in Newton, Iowa, OB-GYN Medical/Surgical at Des Moines General Hospital, Health Monitor at Nutri-System Health Center, Staff Supervisor at Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center, Banker’s Life, which became Principal Financial Group, all in Des Moines, Iowa. She relocated to Tampa, Florida to head their Regional Offices there, then she retired from the State of Florida Medical Advocacy’s Department Head in Tallahassee, Florida.

Amidst all this training to be a Nurse, working her way up in her field, and being a Bad A$$ officer in the military, Melody met Charles Richard Bartel on New Year’s Eve 1962, where he fell madly in love with her after they shared their first kiss at midnight. They started their crazy clan with 4 children: Shawn Richard (Barbara), Shannon Rue, Heather Renee (Rick), and Ian Christopher (Dora), along with her honorary daughter, Tonja (Greg). The next clan branch includes 14 grandchildren: Melody E., Anjelica (Jay), Alexandria, Amanda, Amber (Giles), Chelsy (Dylan), Chaz (Pennelope), Jared, Jacoby and Tyler. The clan continues with 17 great grands: Amir, Khalyla, Charles, Annica, Remy, Ashlynn, Zyhire, Marcilyne, Aiden, Faith, Christopher, Ilee, Cordelia, Wesley, Lillyanna, James and Arthur. Her story continues on with a 4th generation of love with her sweet Aurora and a new one on the way.

That’s a lot of love from this incredible, amazing woman who worked hard all her life, who broke multiple chains of abuse and addiction, and raised her children with love, hard work and integrity. She always cared for others first and put aside her own feelings and did what must be done, as a true Nurse and Mother do. She wasn’t always perfect, but she always led with love, honesty, and a great sassy humor that was uniquely her. She discovered a beautiful faith and love in Jesus and we believe there was a huge celebration when she arrived and He said, “Well done, my beautiful Melody, well done!” May she rest in His Sweet Peace.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin Dewayne Pritchard and Marjorie Marie Haggard and her brother, Bernard. To her incredible sister, Midge of Knoxville, Tennessee, who is her best friend, most important confidant, and the best sister ever - she leaves this crazy clan all to you.

Selfless and giving to the end, Melody generously gave the gift of life through organ donation. There will be a celebration of her life announced soon. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa or to the Ronald McDonald House.

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