Biography: Captain Thomas L. Bartsch of Cabot passed away peacefully on June 3, 2024. We emphasize “peacefully” because the captain was diagnosed with stage IV cholangiocarcinoma in September 2023 and made the decision to live his final months not allowing cancer to beat him down mentally or spiritually but with specific wishes to be surrounded by his wife Jennifer, their family and lifelong friends and that he did. In return, we all made sure that Capt. Tom did as he wanted to do. He spent his final days fellowshipping with people who have been in his life, from grade school to present day, and was able to get in one last hunt with his boys, which was his favorite pastime along with time at his favorite place on earth, his lake cabin. 
 
Captain Tom Bartsch was born in Little Rock on June 6, 1951, to Rosie and Joseph Bartsch.
 
Living to cherish his memory are his adoring wife Jennifer Lynn Bartsch and their sons Thomas L Bartsch, Jr.; Allen Bartsch (Rebecca); Joseph Bartsch (Tara); and Ethan Bartsch (Makayla) along with 11 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Also at his side were Tom’s siblings Paul Bartsch (Gwen); Debbie Jones (Don); Tricia Gentry (Andy); Jean Davis (Clint), John Bartsch (Erin) and his brother in law, Larry West, Jr.
 
 
Capt. Tom Bartsch started his career at the Little Rock Police Department in 1974.  He was a graduate of Catholic High School for Boys and attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He spent the first few years of his career in patrolman rank working as a detective solving burglary and robbery cases and also served as a detective in the special investigation division where he worked in an undercover capacity. He continued to work up the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and finally the rank of captain where he commanded every division of the department which included the SWAT team, Special Events and training, with the exception of special investigations. His most cherished mission at work was meeting and then marrying his precious wife, Sgt. Jennifer L. Bartsch 29 years ago.   
 
A very special thank you to CARTI and most especially Dr. Derek Middleton and his team for managing Capt. Tom’s diagnosis. Those along with the team at Arkansas Hospice allowed Tom to live the best life possible over these last few months.
 
Visitation will take place at 10 a.m. followed by a mass of Christian on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock.  Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com