Barr, Arthur “Art” (1917-2011)
BARR, CRESSLER, GERKEN, LAMY, THOMSEN, WATTS, ANDERSON, WORTHAN, WEBSTER, JANSSEN, HELMING, STONER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/11/2011 at 14:54:56
Arthur "Art" Barr
March 07, 1917 - December 02, 2011Newell, Iowa
Arthur "Art" Barr, age 94, of Newell, Iowa, died December 2, 2011, at the Newell Good Samaritan Center in Newell.
Arthur Octave Barr was born on March 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Raymond and Ellen Barr. He was joined by a brother, Arnold Stanley “Steve”, in 1919 and by a sister, Marion, in 1927. The family lived in the Chicago area where Art attended schools and was baptized into the Lutheran faith.
In 1920, Ellen took Art and Steve to visit her parents in Sweden for a two year visit. The family joke became that the boys learned Swedish before English. Because of the depression, the family moved around several times. The hardships that the depression brought, however, didn’t affect Art’s vigor for life or his zest for success. Resourceful, he earned his own spending money. He also demonstrated his thoughtfulness early in life as he would often provide treats and gifts for his kid sister, Marion.
May of 1934 brought about another challenge when Art’s brother, Steve, developed diphtheria and was quarantined with his mother and sister. Consequently, Art and his father were left to fend for themselves and to continue to work. Art signed up for the C.C.C. and was sent off to fight forest fires and plant trees in Oregon. Upon returning to Chicago, Art found employment and enlisted in the National Guard.
On June 8, 1940, Art married Gretchen Maxine Cressler at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. This union was blessed with a son, Thomas.
Art enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Air Force prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant and worked specifically on airplane mechanics. During his time in the Pacific, Art earned various medals including a Bronze Star for meritorious service. Following WWII, Art remained in the reserves and was called into duty during the Korean Conflict where he was stationed in Japan. He earned the Good Conduct medal as a Staff Sergeant during this tour of duty. Art also worked on the first Minuteman Missile at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, as a Quality Control Inspector on cables for the second stage coach.
Art and Gretchen thoroughly enjoyed traveling. They traveled the world and especially enjoyed visiting their family roots in Belgium and Sweden. With Art’s pilot license and a plane, their travels were just around the next bend. If anyone talked about aviation, Art had the passion and the education to delve into the conversation. After many happy years of marriage, Gretchen died on February 7, 1980.
On September 11, 1982, Art married Agnes Gerken in Newell, Iowa. They, too, loved to travel and made many trips to Washington to visit Art’s son, Tom, and family. During these visits, Art enjoyed good food and great conversations, even into the early morning hours. Additionally, he loved dancing and Big Band music.
Above all, Art cherished his family. A gentleman, he will be forever remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandparent, brother and friend.
Those left to cherish Art’s memory include his sister, Marion Lamy, of Alpena, Michigan, her children, David, Jon and Laurie, and their families; his daughter-in-law, Joyce Linda Barr, of Renton, Washington; his grandsons: Thomas Jarad (Chrissa Lynn) Barr, of Renton, Washington, and Kurt Aaron Barr, of Aspen, Colorado; his granddaughter, Tamara Ashley Barr, of Renton, Washington; his great-granddaughter, Savanna Barr, of Trophy Club, Texas; his sister-in-law, Inez Cressler (Eggert) Thomsen, of Newell, Iowa, and her children, Barry Cressler and Sandy Watts, and their families.
Also surviving are Agnes’ children: Judy (Roger) Anderson, of Storm Lake, Iowa, John (Nancy) Gerken, of Jefferson, Iowa, Jan (Gary) Worthan, of Storm Lake, Iowa; her grandchildren: David (Norma) Anderson, Susan (Steve) Webster, Steve (Amy) Anderson, Matt Gerken, Melissa (Matt) Janssen, Emily (Ryan) Helming, Mandy (Tanner) Stoner, Ryan (Amy) Worthan, Gabe Worthan, and Shannon (Natalie) Worthan; and her great-grandchildren: Danielle, Malea, Anderson, Sydney, Samuel, Jillian, Addison, Kylie, Ava, Trevin, Tegan, Mallie, Tage, Amelia, Lucas, Owen, and Liam; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and many friends.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gretchen; his son, Thomas; his wife, Agnes; and his brother, Steve Barr.
Visitation: 10:00-11:00 a.m., December 09, 2011, at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., December 09, 2011, at the Nain Lutheran Church.
Interment: 00, 000 at the Newell Cemetery in Newell, Iowa.
Copyright © 2011, Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
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