Lawrence F. Bartels, 85, of Mendota died July 3, 2011, in Rockford Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be at 6:15 p.m. July 29 in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota, with the Rev. Gary Blake officiating. Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. July 29 in the funeral home. Mr. Bartels was born Sept. 27, 1925, in Chicago to Lawrence C. and Frances (Nicklas) Bartels. He married Ellen J. Cavanaugh on Sept. 15, 1945, in Chicago. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations and was attached to the Seabees. He was on an Honor Flight to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 2010. He was an avid hunter, member and past president of Mendota Sportsmen's Club and helped form the Mendota chapter of Ducks Unlimited. He was active in many areas of conservation. He is survived by one son, Lawrence J. (Rhonda) Bartels of Mendota; two daughters, Judith Bartels of Mendota and Denise (Michael) Shirey of Southlake, Texas; three grandchildren, Michael Bartels, Sarah Shirey and Joseph Shirey; and two stepgrandchildren, Jamie Preston and Ryan Glaser. He was preceded in death by his wife on Feb. 9, 2011. Memorials may be directed to Illinois Valley Hospice.