Marie was born in Roedinghausen, West Phalia, Germany, on 7 Jul 1971 to Hermann and Wilhelmina (Henke) Haake. In 1882 the family emigrated to America, sailing on the steamship Elbe and arriving in New York City on 19 Jun 1882. Only three of the five children made the trip at this time; the oldest two brothers (John and Fred) came separately. Fred saved his money until he had enough to send for his parents, sisters, and youngest brother Ernest. Marie was 10 years old when the emigrated. They immediately came to the Daykin, Nebraska area. Her father died in 1890 and is buried in the Old Zion cemetery; her mother lived until 1919 and is also buried in the Old Zion cemetery.

Following a courtship wherein Henry many times walked the long trip from Saline county to neighboring Jefferson county, she married Henry Bartels on 1 Mar 1888 at Zion Lutheran church which at that time adjoined Old Zion Cemetery. To this union were born 13 children; all but the last children, twins Walter and Wilhelm (who were born and died in 1912), survived to adulthood. Today, the Tobias area is thickly populated with their descendants.

Her death notice:
Daykin Herald
Daykin, Jefferson county, Nebraska
4 Dec 1942
page 1
MRS. HENRY BARTELS DIES
Mrs. Henry Bartels, an old resident of the Tobias vicinity, passed away Thursday morning, Nov. 26. She had been ill about five weeks. Her husband died in 1931.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Zion Lutheran church conducted by Rev. C. F. Schrein, pastor. Burial was in the church cemetery.
She is survived by eight sons: Ernest, Fred, John, Henry, Paul, Emil, Theodore and Edwin Bartels, and two daughters, Hulda, of Lincoln, Kas., and Hedwig at home; also by other relatives.
(This same obituary was published 4 Dec 1942 in "The Tobias Times", page 1.)

Her obituary, from "The Fairbury (Nebraska) Journal-News", 3 Dec 1942, page 10:
Death of Mrs. H. Bartels
Mrs. Marie Bartels passed away at her home near Tobias Thanksgiving day, Nov. 26, 1942 at the age of 71 years and 4 months, following an illness of about nine weeks.
Marie Haake was born in Germany, July 1871, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Haake. She came to America with her parents in 1882 and settled near Daykin, Nebr. She was confirmed in the Zion Lutheran church south of Tobias by Rev. Meeske where she remained active in church work until her death.
In 1888 she was united in marriage to Henry Bartels near Tobias. They established their home south of Tobias where they spent their entire married life. Mr. Bartels passed away eleven years ago, one son Herman died 3 years ago.
She is survived by ten children, Miss Hattie Bartels at home, Mrs. Hulda Obermueller, Lincoln, Kans., Ernest, Fred, Henry Jr., Paul, Emil, Theodore and Edwin all near Tobias, John Bartels of Lincoln, Kans.; 36 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Katherine Nielson [sic-Nielsen] near Western, one brother, Ernest Haake, near Daykin.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the Zion's [sic-Zion] Lutheran church south of Tobias with Rev. C. F. Schrien officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Attending the services from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. John Bartels and two children; Mr. and Mrs. Obermueller and son, of Lincoln, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. Werner Reetz and children of York county.