Fredda Bartenbach

Fredda (Potts) Bartenbach, 90, of Grand Island passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at the Riverside Lodge in Grand Island.



Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 1 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island with Pastor Kevin Geurink officiating. Burial will follow in the Grand Island City Cemetery. A visitation will be from 4 to 6 pm on Sunday, February 28th at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to the Stuhr Museum and Central Nebraska Humane Society.



Fredda was born on July 29, 1930 in Owensboro, KY to Delmon and Henrietta (Towery) Potts. She graduated from Owensboro High School and then went on to attend Christian College in Columbia, MO and Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in speech in 1952.



She married Henry Bartenbach in 1952 and the couple settled in Grand Island where they owned Bartenbach Interiors. She was a substitute teacher for several years in the Grand Island school system. Many years later, she returned to college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to graduate with her master’s degree in interior design in 1976. She was inducted into Omicron Nu national honor society in 1975. She worked at Bartenbach Interiors for 25 years as an interior designer.



Throughout her life she served on many various boards including: Grand Island Board of Education for 12 years as a president and vice-president, Stuhr Museum, YMCA, YWCA as a president and vice-president, awarded YWCA volunteer of the year, president of the Grand Island Education Foundation, St. Francis Medical Center Foundation, as well as a volunteer in the gift shop, an original member of the College Park board. She was a 50+ year member of Chapter EZ, P.E.O and held many offices, past member of DAR, Rotary Ann, AAUW, League of Women Voters, AOK Ladies and Riverside Country Club. She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon and elder, as well as a Stephen Minister and volunteer for LOGOS.



She was awarded the Nebraska Mother of the Year award in 2009. She received training from Boy’s Town for “Common sense parenting.” and taught classes for many years. She started a local “Mended Hearts” support group with Sherri Gleason. She served as a CASA volunteer, was a TEAMMATES mentor and tutored at Wasmer Elementary for 12 years. She was a member of Nebraska Job Training Council (appointed for 2 terms by Governor Kay Orr)



She enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, tennis, gardening of which she completed the Master Gardener Program, and spending time with her grandchildren.



Fredda is survived by her children, George (Marla) Bartenbach of Grand Island, Tory (Dave) Kouma of Loveland, CO; eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.



She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Henry, a brother and sister, and her son, Frederick.