Ruben Dario Barreras 1949-2003

YGLESIAS

Posted By: Michael (email)
Date: 12/1/2003 at 16:58:37

Ruben Dario Barreras, 54, of 1140 St. Andrews Drive in North Liberty, died Saturday, November 22, 2003 at Lantern Park Nursing & Rehab Center in Coralville, Iowa following a long illness.

Ruben was born on November 13, 1949 in Cumanayagua, Las Villas, Cuba, the son of Manuel Martin Barreras & Leopoldina Balbina Yglesias de Barreras. He was raised on a farm until the age of four when his mother moved to Havana, Cuba. Ruben, his sister and his mother lived in Cuba when a being single mother was not accepted by society. When Fidel Castro took over and declared Cuba a Communist country, his mother decided that Ruben and his sister should come to the U.S.A. They arrived in Miami, Florida on March 5, 1962. Later that year, at the age of 13, Ruben moved to Downers Grove, Illinois to live with the Robert Heelan family.

Moving to Iowa City in 1976, Ruben was a medical photographer in the Otolaryngology Department at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, retiring in July, 1991. Ruben was diagnosed with cancer in April of 1975 yet maintained a strong fight against the cancer with his first wife Karen Brown. Ruben married Kay Klein in September 7, 1990 at Kent Park, west of Tiffin, Iowa. He attended St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Iowa City.

Survivors include: His wife Kay Klein of North Liberty; Son, Ben Barreras of Iowa City; Daughter, Anna Barreras of Reno, Nevada; Sister, Magaly “Maggie” Powalisz of LaMonte, Illinois; Nephews, Kenneth & Michael and great-nephew Zackary & great-niece Caitlyn.