Clarence "Barney" McCormick 1921-2000

MCCORMICK, HEMPLE, WEYKER, PHILLIPS, STEINBERG, WEIHE, KANTENWEIN, JOHNSON, SCHROLL, APPEL

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/2/2011 at 20:33:53

Barney McCormick, the son of Dave and Anne (Weyker) McCormick, was born April 1, 1921 on the family farm in Iona, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm and attended St. Columba High School in Iona. On May 4, 1942, Barney was united in marriage to Eileen Hemple at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda, Minnesota. Barney continued to farm during the first six years of their marriage. In 1948, they moved to Heron Lake, Minnesota and he owned and operated an automobile service garage; in 1952, they moved to Jackson, Minnesota and Barney initially worked in the auto and appliance repair businesses and then as a home builder. He also managed the VFW Club in the evenings. Besides building numerous homes for others, he built five homes in Jackson for himself. They lived in Spirit Lake, Iowa from 1974-81 and Emerald Isle, North Carolina from 1982-85, where he was a home builder and built homes for he and Eileen in Spirit Lake and Emerald Isle. Barney and Eileen moved to Estherville in 1985. Barney was a skilled craftsman and was knowledgeable in all phases of home construction. Doing cabinetry and precision woodcraft projects was one of Barney’s favorite pastimes. Every family member can look around their home and see some handcrafted piece that Barney made for them with love. Barney’s other treasured moments were in the outdoors. He was an avid fisherman, often causing others to wonder why fish were biting on his end of the boat and not theirs. Barney also enjoyed gardening, grilling, bowling, card games, watching ball gems, traveling and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Barney was a member of the Church of Good Shepherd in Jackson, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake; St. Mildred’s Catholic Church in Emerald Isle and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Jackson Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Jackson JC’s and was deeply involved in volunteering his time to the recent addition of the new kitchen at the Duhigg Center.

Barney is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-eight years, Eileen McCormick of Estherville; three sons and four daughters, Carolyn (Sis) Phillips and her husband, Brian of Wayzata, Minnesota; Daniel McCormick and his wife Diann of Emerald Isle, North Carolina; Douglas McCormick, Des Moines, Iowa; Michael McCormick and his wife, Mary of Burnsville, Minnesota; Patricia Steinberg and special friend, Charlie Weihe of Fairmont, Minnesota; Mary Ellen (Doats) Kantenwein and her husband, Craig of Antioch, Illinois; Terese McCormick of Spirit Lake, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Scott Kantenwein and his wife, Joan; Matt Phillips and his wife, Sarah; Marc Phillips and his wife, Jenny; Jake Steinberg and his fiancé, Gena; Jenni Steinberg, Dan McCormick II and his wife, Sonya; Dean McCormick; Melissa McCormick; five great-grandchildren, Alex Steinberg; Elaine Grace McCormick; Kyle Kantenwein; Krysten Kantenwein; Chris Johnson; six brothers and sisters, Helen Schroll of Slayton, Minnesota; Al McCormick and his wife, Doris of Indianapolis, Indiana; Leo McCormick and his wife, Alice of Lennox, South Dakota; Patrick McCormick and his wife Mary Ann of Iona, Minnesota; Tom McCormick and his wife, Fran of Slayton, Minnesota; Darlene Appel and her husband, Keith of Anchorage, Alaska. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark; sister, Patronella Johnson; brother, Edward; and brother-in-law Harold.

Barney was a beloved husband, devoted father, family man and friend of many. Barney in so many ways will be deeply missed by those who knew him and those whose lives he touched. (MC)

Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Estherville, IA