Captain Bismark

""Blessed be to God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble; by the comfort we ourselves are comforted of God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) I met 'Buzzie' when I was schooling at Archbishop Porters Girls Secondary School (APGSS) while he was at Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS) Takoradi. Bismark was introduced to me by my brother Harvey Essilfie of Blessed Memory, who was at GSTS. We schooled in Takoradi and lived in Agona Swedru during vacations. We continued to the University of Science and Technology. He was a year ahead of me. We got traditionally married in 1981 and wedded in 1982. We are blessed with four (4) children and three (3) grandchildren. Because I called him 'Buzzie', our children also called him 'Dada Buzzie'. 'Buzzie' as I usually called him, was often at his desk learning. He would often look through his piloting books, airline cockpit pictures and use his pilot instruments to measure and calculate things. He would often say "Nana get the children to be quiet." I understood his quest for silence to study his books. However, when he was less busy, he would tell many funny tales for us to laugh our hearts off. Thank God the education yielded good results. By God's Grace, he got his Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilot License in 1994; Airline Transport Pilot License in 2000; P1 (Captain) Rating on Beechcraft 1900D in 2002 and P1 (Captain) Recurrent Rating (Proficiency Check) by 2003. He was very passionate about his career as an Airline Pilot. Any time I addressed him as "Mr. Bartels" He would correct me to call him "Captain Bartels". Dada 'Buzzie' received good care from the Volta River Authority Hospital, Osu-Accra, till he was referred to a Cardiologist at Ridge Hospital. He went to International Maritime Hospital, Tema for the cardiac treatment, because it was closer to our home at the Nungua Barrier. He complained that the cardiac medication rather put him in a worse condition. Dada 'Buzzie' went to the Cardiologist for a review, but he was detained at the emergency ward. When the family visited him there, he looked more cheerful. The children and I said his swollen feet had gone down, so he would soon be discharged — only for things to turn around to death. Buzzie! Thanks for the good moments we shared together. I would have loved you to stay longer, but God knows best. Your death has created a big vacuum in the family life never to be filled. Captain! Buzzie! What else can I say, than to ask God to take care of you, and give you a peaceful rest. May the Lord God grant you rest in His bosom till we meet again. 'Buzzie' Da Yie! Nyame mfa wo nsie yie!"

"Today we are remembering our Dad and the great memories we shared. He was one of a kind and our best friend. There isn't a day that would go by that we would not think of him and smile. Daddy was a closed book filled with many beautiful tales only the brave, wise and curious could read to draw out the wisdoms of life. He was the most politically astute man we knew, a trait that we highly admired about him. Captain Bartels was so many things to so many people, to us he was our dear father that we affectionately called 'Dada Buzzie'. He was always about his business to make life better for his family, both the nuclear and extended. He always directed our attention away from pain, trouble, negativity and always showed us the right path to tread on. We may not have always heeded to his advice, but we achieved the goal that he wanted for us. Daddy loved the simple pleasures of life, he was endeared to many both young and old, who loved him for his funny and witty comments. He was never a bore to be with. Sometimes I thought my father was Irish because of his love for Guinness and Baileys Irish Cream. We affectionately called him Michael Power, unknown to him of course, for his love for Guinness. Dada Buzzie was always positive despite everything that he was going through in his life. He would wake me up in the middle of the night to watch Ghanaian boxing bouts and football matches. He loved football a lot but unlike everyone he enjoyed watching it in quiet. Daddy had a lot of quips that he shared with us his kids and the one he kept repeating to me was "Never ass-u-me, if you do that you make an ass (donkey) out of you and me." I miss his play on words. Daddy was a breath of fresh air, a man whose masculinity was not defined by his wealth or achievements but by his ability to steer his family in the right direction regardless of all the personal and career difficulties that he faced in his own life. I am proud to be my father's son. The wisdom and the skills he taught me has made me who I am today. My only desire is that his spirit still stays with me and guides me until we meet again in Heaven. Daddy, "Now is your time of grief, but we will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (John 16:22). For all the hidden wins and bruises you have been through for us, Thank you! For always cheering and providing for us, Thank you! For every day you made us smile and laugh, Thank you! Rest in Peace, Dada Buzzie, until we meet again. — Joslyn Hyde, Jessie Bartels, Efua Mansa Ahey, Bismark Bartels"

"A Golden Heart Stopped Beating! Noel and I met Grandpa Bismark personally in July 2021, during our summer vacation in Ghana. We got to know a man with a golden heart and a smile that could light up a room. Grandpa was just as excited as we were to see him. We hugged, kissed, talked and watched TV together. His mannerism was that of calmness, warmth, rare ability to get his point across in few words, and a desire to make others feel comfortable around him. During our stay in Ghana, we felt safe, enjoyed and preferred our rides with Grandpa Bismark behind the wheel in Accra. Grandpa Bismark remained calm and swiftly maneuvered through the chaos while engaging us in a conversation. I asked, aren't these people afraid of being hit by a car? His response was, "You cannot control the actions of others around you. The most important thing to do, is to anticipate their actions, so you can work around them, but do not lose focus on the route to your destination." Deep thought indeed! Grandpa Bismark was fun to hang out with. He would take us out to malls and restaurants in town. When we returned to the United States, we spoke with Grandpa often, after school and on weekends. He would always emphasize on the importance of education and God as the source of success in life. We know you can no longer stay with us, you fought long and hard to be with us. When we heard you were ill, we prayed each night for your healing, but God decided it was time for you to receive eternal wings to soar higher into the heavens. We know you now watch over and protect us. Grandpa Bismark, we know you'll be showing the angels a trick or two about being a flight Captain. It is an honour to be the grandchildren of such an intelligent, kind, generous, and loving man. Rest well, Grandpa Bismark! — Angelyn Hyde, Noel Hyde, Shiloh Ahey"