Lyle Paul Bartlett

Lyle Paul Bartlett of Cozad passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at Cozad Community Hospital at the age of 93. Lyle was born on October 28, 1929, in Custer County to Wyrthy and Delia (Griffis) Bartlett. He was raised on a farm northwest of Cozad and attended District 27 Lucerne Valley School before graduating from Cozad High School in 1947.

In 1948, Lyle enlisted in the Army because he didn’t want to hand-pick corn anymore and served in the armed forces until 1952. In August 1953, he married Lola Berke at the American Lutheran Church in Cozad, Nebraska.  Lyle and Lola were married for sixty years; three boys were born to this union. He farmed for a few years and later opened a sporting goods store, Sportsman's Hangout, which he ran for twenty years. He later went on to work at Monroe’s and retired from there at age 55. He became certified for fixing small appliances and did that on the side.

Lyle owned a cabin at Midway Lake for thirty years and loved entertaining his kids and grandkids during the summer at the lake. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, motorcycles, boating, and playing cards. He also loved tinkering with things and could fix pretty much anything.

Lyle was a member of the United Methodist Church in Cozad. He was also a charter member of the Elk’s Club and active member of the Grand Generation Center where he served as a board member. He enjoyed making jokes and was a lifelong Republican.

Lyle enjoyed making jokes, meeting new people, and visiting with friends and family.  He always made good friends with his neighbors and enjoyed helping them.  He would even ride bikes with the neighbor kids and fix their bikes for them.  He was known for picking up broken things at garage sales and fixing them up.

Lyle lived his last few years at Meadowlark Pointe in Cozad, NE.  He enjoyed socializing with the residents and played cards every week with his relatives.  His sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren visited him frequently.

He was preceded by wife Lola, parents Wyrthy & Delia, and sister and brother-in-law Glenna Young (Bartlett) & Verne Young, sister and brother-in-law Thelma & Bill Peterson, sister and brother-in-law Opal & Vincent Ogorsolka, brother and sister-law Wayne & Georgia Bartlett, brother-in-law Bill Laird, sister-in-law Ruby Bartlett, and brother-in-law Daniel Berke.

Survivors include his sons Kent (Penny) Bartlett, Ron Bartlett from Cozad, NE, and Bruce (Pam) Bartlett from Lincoln, NE, grandchildren Dawn Bartlett of Watertown, NY, Angie Drahota of Ravenna, NE, Lisa (Gabe) Bartlett of Torrington, WY, Melanie (Mike) Anderson of Plattsmouth, NE,  Brandy (Phil) Crumbliss of Tulsa, OK, and great-grandchildren Jack & Jesse Drahota,  Isaac & Adam Bartlett, Ben Bartlett, Lucas & Lillian Anderson, Jaxon & Piper Crumbliss, brother Dale Bartlett, sister Donna Jean Laird, both from Cozad, NE, sister-in-law, Dorothea Berke of Arizona, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dennis & Nadine Berke of Eustis, NE.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Meadowlark Pointe or Cozad Grand Generation Center. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Services will be Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cozad United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Gahn officiating. Burial with military honors will be at 2:00 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Monday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home.