Larry Bartel to end construction business
Larry Bartel will end his 31-year construction business on May 10 of this year.
"I'm just tired," Larry said. "It is something I've been thinking about for several years. I'm not mad at anybody — it's just time to make a change."
A native of Hillsboro, Larry was the youngest of six children born to the late Albert and Anna Bartel. He was raised on a farm northwest of Hillsboro.
After graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1964, he went to work in the construction business and did custom harvesting.
He worked for seven years for Kenneth Funk , the owner of Funk Construction.
"I got some good training while working for Kenny," Larry said.
In November of 1966 he married Yolanda Boese, also a Hillsboro High School graduate.
In May of 1972, Larry decided to venture out and start his own construction company.
"People wanted work done, so I struck out on my own," he said. "I did not advertise; most of my business came through word-of-mouth."
Larry recalled that the first home he built with his crew of three, including himself, was the home of Jim and Beth Schroeder on 202 S. Kennedy in 1972.
During 31 years in the construction business, Larry said he and his crew have built more than 260 homes. They have also built apartment complexes and constructed ag-related and light commercial work.
According to Larry, he also helped various dairy farmers come in compliance with KDHE and did a lot of work for Cooperative Grain and Supply.
In reference to building houses, Larry said, "I enjoy working with my hands; some have the gift to cut a board and some don't. I enjoy seeing the finished product."
Larry and his crew do everything from start to finish, except the installation of the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and floor coverings.
He has built homes in Marion, McPherson, Dickinson and Chase counties.
He recalled in the mid-1980s and '90s, his crew put together four fertilizer plants for Ag Service.
"I really enjoyed working with Mike Klieber," Larry said.
Larry has no formal training — only the school of "hard knocks."
"I've had Duane Kliewer work for me for nearly 30 years," Larry said. "I think he had some training courses, and then he joined us right out of high school."
Larry's shop has been located on D Street since 1989. In 1974, the business was on North Main and in 1980 at the Industrial Park. During the 1980's, they did not have a shop.
"At that time interest rates were 18 percent, and things were not good," he said.
After 14 years on D Street, Larry will have a sale and abolish Bartel Construction.
"I told my employees," he said, "the ones I have now working for me are the best employees I've had. That makes in tougher to quit."
Larry said that right now he is looking at several possibilities and has not finalized anything yet.
"I'm not selling the house or anything, and we're not leaving Hillsboro," he said smiling.
Larry has been a member of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church since 1959.
He has served on the Hillsboro Housing Authority board of directors for 17 years and served two six-year terms on the Salem Hospital board.
His hobbies include traveling to Colorado to ski: he loves the mountains. He also enjoys reading history books, especially natural history, and geography books.
He and his wife have one son, Kevin, who is a certified union welder and travels to places, through the union, where there is a need for welders. He works for Bartel Construction in between his union welding jobs. He also does welding on his own for different people, according to Larry.
As he reflected back on his career in the construction business and what has been his motivation all these years, Larry said, "I always wanted to treat others like I'd like to be treated myself and show others the faith I have in God."
