Alvin “Al” Augustus Bartleson, age 81, was born October 14, 1942, on the Bartleson family farm in Grand Chain, Illinois, to Warren Knowlton Bartleson and Alma Laverne (Sneed) Bartleson. He passed away July 29, 2024, at his home near Licking, Missouri, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Robert Warren Bartleson; sister-in-law, Mary Ellen (Hightower) Bartleson; nephew, Robert Kris Bartleson; and stepmother, Frances (Beck) Bartleson. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Sharon (Uher) Bartleson; one daughter, Melissa Fay (Mateo) Coahuilas of Festus, Missouri; grandson, Aaron Ewing (Lauren) Lane of Westlake Village, California; and granddaughter, Andrea Ranita (Kyle) Mui of Ventura, California. Al worked on the family farm with his father where his love for older farm equipment became a lifelong interest. After graduation from Grand Chain High School, he attended both Bailey Tech School and Ranken Technical College in St Louis and became a heavy equipment mechanic. He was a 63-year member of Operating Engineers Local 513 and was an owner-operator of his own successful crane rental business in St Louis until his retirement in 2002. He was a lifelong member of Webster Groves Masonic Lodge 84 AF&AM and of Scottish Rite. Al was a member of the Missouri Allis-Chalmers Club and of Ozarks Older Iron Club Branch 28 in Cabool and was inducted into the National Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Association Hall of Fame in 2023. He enjoyed displaying his Allis-Chalmers tractor collection at various tractor shows and events throughout the year. His Allis-Chalmers WC, which he nicknamed “old Bertha” after his grandmother, was the same model tractor he used when farming with his dad on the family farm at a very early age. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. A visitation for Al will be on Saturday, August 3rd, at 2:00 PM at Fox Funeral Home in Licking, Missouri, with services following at 3:00 PM. Per Al’s wishes, he will be cremated after the funeral and be interred at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Salem, Missouri, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Home Health of the Ozarks Hospice of Care or to Ozarks Older Iron Club Branch 28. Arrangements are entrusted to Fox Funeral Home.
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