Bartlett L. Blakeley

Memorial Services for Bartlett L. Blakeley will be conducted from the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastors Paul Bauman and Doug Reed, officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the memorial service at the Fridhem Cemetery at Funk, Nebraska with military honors provided by the United States Air Force Military Honors Team from Offutt Air Force Base.


Bartlett LaRoy Blakeley, 90 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at the Holdrege Memorial Homes. Bartlett was born February 25, 1920 in Kearney, Nebraska to Roy Vernon and Mary Jane (Bell) Blakeley. He received his education from Kearney Public Schools, graduating from Longfellow High School at Kearney with the class of 1938. Bart then pursued higher education at Kearney State Teachers College, prior to moving to Excelsior Springs, Missouri in 1940. He also attended the University of Illinois, University of Austin, Texas while in the military and Central Technical Institute in Kansas City, Missouri after retiring from the military.

Bart entered active military service on October 8, 1940 and was commissioned to Officer status by direct appointment in 1949. During WW II, he served in the European theatre arriving in the British Isles on June 4, 1942. From there he participated in the North African invasion in November of 1942 and the Italian and Middle Eastern Campaigns until August 8, 1944. He served two overseas assignments in the Pacific after WW II. The first, the Korean War, was in Korea and Japan from November 1950 to July 1951, the second in Japan from October 1952 to February 1953. Before retiring, Bart served three years, April 1959 to April 1962, in France and Germany. During his military service, he was awarded 15 commendations and decorations.

After retiring from the military, Bart attended an electronics engineering school receiving an Associates in Science degree in Electronic Engineering. Upon graduation, he was employed by Bell Telephone Western Electric (now Lucient Technologies) in Kansas City, Missouri as an Electronic Engineer for the manufacture of semi-conductors. He retired in 1985 after twenty years of employment with the company.

Mr. Blakeley was united in marriage to Ardyce Epping of Funk, Nebraska on March 20, 1942 at Fort Wayne, Indiana and to this union was born a son, who died at birth and a daughter, Marini Blanche.

Bart was baptized as an infant in 1920 at the United Brethren Church in Kearney and in 1979, when visiting Israel; he was re-baptized in the river Jordan.

Mr. Blakeley had an active and interesting life having served in two wars (WW II and the Korean War). While living in Kansas City, Missouri he was a leader in Junior Achievers of America, active in his church and was a counselor for the Billy Graham Crusade. In 1955, he was licensed by CAA (now FAA) as a licensed Aircraft and Engine Mechanic and Instructor. He also possessed a FCC 1st Class Radio Phone license and an Advanced Amateur Radio Operator's license. From 1932 to 1940, he was a member of the Kearney Symphony Orchestra (then Kearney State Teachers College) playing both violin and viola. When he moved to Holdrege in 1992, Bart once again became a member of the Kearney Symphony Orchestra, playing with them until 2003.

While working at Western Electric in Kansas City, he was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), a life time member of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International and a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

After his retirement he devoted much time writing Biblical manuscripts of which three were copyrighted and published. They are Pre-Resurrection Inquiry II, a paraphrased harmonization of events in Jesus' life, by day and date, of the four Gospels between the days we call Psalm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday). Tradition Breakers, which contains seven flawed tradition translations of which one chapter is titled, "Joshua and Caleb and How Many Others." Pre-Resurrection II Inquiry and Beyond to the Day of Pentecost, which continues with the 12 appearances of Jesus during the 40 days after His resurrection. He was a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege.

Survivors include his wife, Ardyce Blakeley and daughter, Marini Blakeley both of Holdrege; two sisters-in-law: Blanche Rose of Holdrege and Luella Epping of Funk, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his infant son, he was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant brother, Clinton Ross Blakeley.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

Memorials are kindly suggested to Back to the Bible in Lincoln, Nebraska or to the donor's choice.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.