Bartels mentor to many

Former East Dundee Village President William Bartels died Tuesday morning at age 94.

A mentor to a generation of civic leaders, Bartels was elected to the village board in 1949 and retired in 2000 at age 85.

He served either as trustee or mayor a total of 47 years, including 14 as mayor.

"He went out of his way to show an interest and help people," said former Village President Roger Ahrens, who served on the board with Bartels in the late 1990s. "That's why he served the village so long. He liked his village and wanted to be a part of it."

Bartels, former East Dundee Police Chief Joe Pena said, always had the community's best interest at heart, ensuring it was fiscally sound, and took the time to know the people living there.

"When it came to him being mayor, he was a consummate professional," said Pena, who spent 32 years with the police department -- 25 as chief before retiring in 2006. "He was village-minded and cared about the residents."

Bartels' long run helping to govern East Dundee was interrupted only by about three years after he underwent open-heart surgery in 1986.

In 1996, the village renamed Triangle Park as William C. Bartels park in his honor.

His grandson, Gerald Bartels, also served as village president, from 2005 to 2007.

Bunting has been placed on village hall, and village flags have been lowered to half-staff in his honor.

Funeral arrangements are pending.