Joseph Josiah "Joe" Bartenslager IV

Joseph Josiah “Joe” Bartenslager IV, age 75, of Tecumseh, formerly of Blissfield, Mich., and Greenville, Ky., passed away Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at Tecumseh Place.  Born Sept. 30, 1942, in Harrisburg, Pa., he was the son of Joseph J.  III and Catherine “Pete” (Noggle) Bartenslager. He graduated from Tecumseh High School and served in the U.S. Navy. On Dec. 17, 1977, he married Marilyn Lee Miller. They resided in Raisin Township and Blissfield for many years before moving to Greenville, Ky., in 2005.  Marilyn preceded him in death on June 9, 2012. After her death he returned to Blissfield, and later moved to Tecumseh Place.  Joe had been employed by General Motors for more than 30 years, including the former Fisher Body plant in Tecumseh, and retired from the Powertrain plant in Toledo.  He is survived by three children, Jeffrey (Danielle) Bartenslager of Riga, Karen (George) Novak of Thornton, Colo.; and Joseph Josiah V (Kim) Bartenslager of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; five grandchildren, Joseph Robert, Brian Thomas, Jaelynn Nicole, Leah Ann and Ellie Rose; brothers, Michael (Gayle) Bartenslager of Harrison, William (Valerie) Bartenslager of Britton and Jim (Ada) Bartenslager of California; sister, Patricia Kelley of Aberdeen, N.C.; sisters-in-law, Melodie Marion of Evansville, Ind.; Marge Furgason of Tecumseh and Melinda (Scott) Sears of Bowling Green, Ky.; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In addition to Marilyn, he was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law, David J. Marion and Jim Furgason.  Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh, where services will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Brian Jones will officiate. Burial will be in Brookside Cemetery.