Lilah Jane Bartz

Lilah Jane Bartz, 94, of Dakota, Minnesota passed away peacefully at Bay Harbor of La Crescent on Friday March 27, 2026.

She was born December 31, 1931, to John and Verna (Jenks) Kramer in Dresbach, MN. She was a member of St John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nodine, MN.

On September 20, 1952, she married Walter Bartz and they enjoyed 70 wonderful years together and made their home in Dakota. They had two children, Steve and Linda.

She is survived by her son Steve (Sarah) Bartz of La Crescent, MN, son-in-law Del Mueller of Dakota, MN, three grandchildren Paul Bartz, Phillip (Tiffany) Bartz and Cassie (Gary) Johnson, 3 great-grandchildren Niles, Nila and Navi Bartz.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, parents, daughter Linda Mueller, mother and father-in-law, brothers Elmer, and Harold Kramer and sisters Olive Hoffmann, Lola Schafer, and Joy Charles.

Lilah was employed at Dakota School as the school secretary for many years and retired from there in 1996.

Lilah loved to go dancing and some of her and Peck’s fondest memories were spinning around the dance floor to good old Polka music with old and new friends. She loved watching the birds, especially her favorite Blue Birds. Lilah was an excellent cook and baker and enjoyed sharing all her special treats with whoever stopped by. You could always find Lilah sitting on her deck with Peck by her side waving to everyone that drove by and that was truly her happy place.

After retirement Lilah and Peck took many bus trips around the country seeing all the sites with friends. She spent a lot of time canning up all the vegetables from their garden and truly loved when Peck would bring her a bouquet of Gladiolus fresh from the garden. She loved to play cards with family and friends and continued to play up to the very end.

Most of all Lilah loved spending time with her family. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and truly cherished her time with them. She will be truly missed by everyone.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 2nd, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nodine. Pastor Ethan Boese will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hiler Cemetery in Nodine. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 111 S. Oak St., La Crescent and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Thursday.

Her family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Bay Harbor Assisted Living and Memory Care units and the St. Croix hospice who took wonderful care of Lilah in her final days. We truly appreciate them and all they did for Lilah and our family.