TERRY Bartel, the father of Brownlow medallist and Geelong midfielder Jimmy, has died in Beechworth.
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Mr Bartel, 60, had been battling cancer. He had one of his wishes granted three weeks ago when his son and two daughters, Olivia and Emma, visited him, with his former wife Dianne.
His uncle, Wodonga resident Ron Bartel, said Mr Bartel had always sought reconciliation with his children after a family dispute that had lasted several years.
“It was one of his wishes before he passed away,” Ron Bartel said.
Mr Bartel was born in Beechworth on February 26, 1950. His mother Dorothy later married and settled in Beechworth and Mr Bartel grew close to his stepfather Ray and three siblings Susan, Raelene and Russell.
He played cricket and football for Beechworth before moving to Wangaratta where he joined the Wangaratta Rovers.
He also spent one season with the Albury Football Club.
At Saturday’s Albury versus Rovers game, players from both sides wore black armbands in honour of their former club member.
Ron Bartel said Mr Bartel had made a long career in selling motor vehicles in Wangaratta, Albury and Melbourne, working for outfits including Jacobs and West City Auto.
From Beechworth and Wangaratta, Mr Bartel moved to Geelong where he settled with his first wife.
He later returned to Wangaratta where he quit playing football in 1974 after a grand final victory with Rovers in 1972.
Mr Bartel settled with his partner Rona in Beechworth, close to his mother in Wangaratta, his surviving siblings Raelene and Russell, and his uncle who moved from Beechworth to Wodonga.
“We loved him so much,” Ron Bartel said.
A funeral for Mr Bartel will be held on Thursday at 11am at Christ Church Anglican Church in Beechworth.