William J. Barney Oldfield

OLDFIELD

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 6/4/2007 at 14:49:57

Oldfield, William J. (Barney)

Born: 12/11/1921

Died: 5/26/2007

Services:

10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 31, 2007, at the Denison Baptist Church, Denison, Iowa.

Visitation:

4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa.

Memorials: Crawford County Area Hospice

Cemetery: Nishnabotna Cemetery, Manilla, Iowa

Detail Obituary:

William “Barney” Oldfield was born in Denison, Iowa, December 11, 1921, the son of Sharl and Frieda Messenbrink. He was raised in Denison where he received his education. Following his schooling he was employed in Denison by L.T. Petersen at Petersen Manufacturing. A proud veteran, Barney served his country during World War II, from August 13, 1942 until his discharge, January 7, 1946, in the United States Navy. During his term of duty he served on the USS Montgomery as a mine layer in the Pacific Theater. Following his discharge he returned to Denison. On June 2, 1946, Barney was united in marriage with Irene M. A. Miller at the First Baptist Church in Denison. Their union was blessed with five children, Shirley, Jim, Donald, William and Jean. They made their home in Denison where Barney was employed at the Denison Locker. In January of 1948, they moved to Defiance where he was employed at the Defiance Locker for three and a half years. In 1951, Barney and Irene moved their family to Dow City, Iowa, where they owned and operated the Dow City Locker for 32 years, retiring in 1983. Following their retirement they remained in Dow City, spending the winter months in south Texas as Port Aransas. Barney was an active member of the Dow City Community serving on the Dow City Fire Department, and for many years as Fire Chief; was a member of the American Legion Post 444 in Dow City and the Ninus L. Hunt Post 2504, V.F.W. in Denison and was an active supporter of Dow City-Arion sports. In his spare time he loved to fish, hunt, camping and, in later years, gardening. For many years Barney and Irene enjoyed their membership in the Tall Corn Camper’s Club. He was a member of Denison Baptist Church. In late 2006 the Oldfield’s moved to Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, Iowa, where Irene died December 19, 2006. Following Irene’s death, Barney continued to reside at Eventide where his death occurred early Saturday, May 26, 2007. At the time of his death he had attained the age of 85 years, 5 months and 15 days. Including his parents, Sharl and Frieda Oldfield, and his wife, Irene, Barney was preceded in death by one son, Donald Marvin Oldfield, one sister, Laura Johnson, one half-brother, Alfred Lingle and two half-sisters, Patricia Buss and Francis M. Lingle. Those remaining to cherish his memory include Survivors include four children and their spouses, Shirley and Steve McIlmurray of Ajax, Ontario, Canada, Jim and Jolynn Oldfield of Shawnee, Kansas, William Lee and Carol Oldfield of Rochester, Minnesota and Jean and Gary Thiedeman of Marion, Iowa, 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, a half-brother, Allen Lingle and wife Marita of Denison, three sisters-in-law, Betty June Miller of Denison, Betty Ann Miller of Denison and Ruth Gorham of Woodbine, Iowa, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 31, 2007, at Denison Baptist Church, Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. David J. Sohl officiating. Music for the service included the congregation singing “How Great Thou Art” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” with Mary Jane Petersen serving as organist. Honorary pallbearers were John Whited, Earl Dozler and Darrell Ketelsen. Pallbearers were Jace Oldfield, Dirk Thiedeman, Charles Beam, Jim Thurston, Vince Leinen and Larry Leinen. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post 444, Dow City, Iowa. Interment was at Nishnabotna Cemetery, Manilla, Iowa. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements where online condolences may be directed to www.pfannebecker.com.