Tulsa, Oklahoma businessman and entrepreneur, Bill Bartmann, passed away Tuesday, November 29, following complications from surgery.

He is survived by: his wife of 43 years, Kathy, of the home; two daughters, Jessica (Kory) Allsop and Meghan Barry, both of Tulsa; two grandsons, Devin Barry and Caleb Allsop; and two granddaughters, Emily Allsop and Tatum Barry.

Bill was born October 23, 1948, in Dubuque, Iowa.

He received his undergraduate degree in sociology from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa and his law degree from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

Bill founded Commercial Financial Services in 1986, a debt collection firm that Bill proudly stated "does not use litigation as a collection methodology". In 2010, he began CFS2 having a philosophy of treating people with respect and dignity and more recently, Financial Samaritan, which provides services to consumers for debt-negotiation, job search, social services and financial literacy, at no cost to the consumer.

In 2014, Bill was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He became known as a change agent in his industry, leading him to be twice named "National Entrepreneur of the Year" by USA Today, NASDAQ, Inc. Magazine, Ernst & Young, and the Kauffman Foundation.
He was recognized by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History for the innovative use of information technology.
His company's business model was the subject of a Harvard Business School Case Study, and he was working with Princeton University on a study of consumer financial decision making behavior.
Bill served on the Board of Trustees for the California Institute of Advanced Management.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Dorothy Bartmann, brother, Ted Bartmann, and sister, DeeAnn Boots. He is also survived by one brother Terry (Patty) Bartmann, sisters, Mary Lou (Jim) Doore, Sandy (Helmut) Engelke, Nancy (John) Quinn and Peggy Staheli , and many nieces and nephews.

In summary, Bill Bartmann was an untiring executive, a man of faith, a warm, caring boss, an owner of a big and kind heart, a loving family man, and blessed with a stellar mind.

He will be missed by many.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 5th at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church. Visitation will be Saturday, December 3rd from 5 to 7 p.m. and a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald's Colonial Chapel, 3612 E 91st Street, Tulsa.

Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel 918-291-3500