Kenneth O'Neal Bartlett passed away June 4, 2025. He was born in Bell City, MO on December 1, 1945, to the late Bennie & Marian Bartlett. He graduated from Anniston High School in 1963 and completed a Welding Training Program soon after. On August 20, 1967, he married Jean (Belk) Bartlett at New Bethel Baptist Church in rural Charleston. They moved to St. Charles but returned to southeast Missouri in 1973. His final residence was near Commerce, MO.

Kenneth was a quiet man, but anyone could easily draw him into a long conversation by mentioning Oliver tractors, US coins, Singer sewing machines, US history, or a wide variety of antique, unique cars and farming equipment. He did not travel much during his life but always enjoyed talking and learning about places around the world, particularly from a historical perspective.

He spent his working life as a structural steel welder creating stairs, columns, support beams, and rebar. However, his specialty was handrails. He was meticulous that his welds be perfect as he couldn't tolerate a messy one. Anyone who's walked a flight of stairs with him anywhere knows he would inspect and comment about how good (or bad) a job the welder had done on them! The last 34 years of his career were spent at Steward Steel, Inc., in Sikeston, MO, where he made many friends before retiring in 2013. He still regularly visited the shop during lunch or break time to talk with his friends.

As much as he loved a good handrail, Kenneth loved his family and his God more. Angela and Paul were blessed to have such a loving father who guided and corrected them as children, but continued to love, support, and cheer them on as adults. He was always eager to spend time with them through a long phone conversation or a day trip to look at a piece of farming equipment. More importantly, though, was the way he quietly and consistently demonstrated the love of God through his actions. He selflessly cared for his wife through a long illness, showing what it meant to honor God by joyfully fulfilling his wedding vows through sickness and health.

He was an active member of Unity Baptist Church, Benton, MO where he served as a deacon and in a wide range of other capacities as needed. His unwavering, confident faith in His savior served as a true light on a hill not only to his family, but to all who knew him. He desired that all would come to know Jesus through the same saving faith extended to him through Christ's work on the cross.

He is survived by one daughter Angela (Tim) Mooney of Edmond, OK and one son, Paul (Amy) Bartlett of Blodgett, MO as well as grandson, Ethan Mooney, and granddaughters, Mollie (Caleb) Cerney and Lillie Bartlett. Also surviving are two sisters, Carol Williams of Cuba, MO and Julia Loiseau of Austin, TX.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Unity Baptist Church Benton, MO with the funeral service to follow at 12 p.m. with Rev. Dennis Lowe, pastor of Unity Baptist Church, officiating.

Interment will take place at the Oakdale Cemetery near Commerce, MO under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

In lieu of flowers, Kenneth would have loved memorial donations be made to support the distribution of God's word throughout the world. Suggested avenues are Gideon's International (https://www.gideons.org), YouVersion (https://www.youversion.com/giving/), or Samaritan's Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org).

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com