Barker, Don W. (1912-2013)

BARKER, WIDMER, RUSSELL, NAGY

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/9/2013 at 06:29:55

Don W. Barker, 101, died on June 2, 2013, at Scenic Manor in Iowa Falls, Iowa. He was born on January 15, 1912, in Milton, Iowa, to Charles and Rose Widmer Barker.

After graduating from Milton High School in 1930, Don attended the University of Northern Iowa where he majored in history and was graduated as an honor student in 1935. In 1968, he received the Alumni Service Award. After teaching school for three years, he attended the University of Iowa, College of Law, earning a J.D. degree in 1941. In 1938, he married Elmira Russell of Webster City, Iowa. They each had U.S. Government jobs in Detroit during World War II.

At the war’s end in 1945, Don and his wife, now known to all as “Bunny,” moved to Iowa Falls where Don hung out his shingle as a lawyer. After practicing solo for twenty-two years, he took in his first associate, David Hansen, in 1967. Later, he took in three more associates, Clark McNeal, Lynn Wiese, and Mike Holt, who later became his partners in the firm known as “Barker, McNeal, Wiese, and Holt. As the founding member of the firm, Don retired in 1982 at the age of 70. He had served two terms as County Attorney and one term as president of the Hardin County Bar Association.

During the thirty-seven years he practiced law in Iowa Falls, he was active in numerous community organizations. For forty years, he served as a director of the Iowa Falls State Bank. He also served on the Chamber of Commerce, the Park Board, the Hospital Board, and the Community Chest Board. A member of the Lions Club for sixty-five years, he was a past president, and for over fifty years, he was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Iowa Falls.

But these accomplishments don’t define a man as much as his chief interests do. Don had many interests. Always most content when at home surrounded by his family, he placed their needs and interests highest on his list. He also had a passion for politics and government. A life-long liberal, he firmly believed that a very substantial portion of the progress mankind had made over the centuries came about as a result of the dreams and endeavors of the liberals.

Don also had a passion for experiencing other cultures, places of great beauty and historical interest, mountains, lakes, plains, prairies, and farm lands. To that end, he and Bunny, over the years, traveled over much of the world. He also read widely, especially books on history, biography, philosophy and religion. He loved to raise roses, delve into photography, play golf, and bicycle. Having a good conversation with someone made him very happy.

When he retired from practicing law, he wrote and published a 300 page hard-cover book entitled, The Odyssey of the Barkers and the Russells, a narrative genealogy of his and his wife’s family. Ten years later, he wrote and published a 200 page supplement. The books were more than the usual genealogy; they contained bits of early English and Iowa history, seventeen vignettes, hand drawn maps, some of his favorite poetry, and some whimsy.

Don is survived by Bunny, his wife of seventy-four years; his daughter, Jane Nagy, and her husband, Paul, of Forest City, Iowa; his son, Bruce, and his wife, Valerie, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and four grandchildren: Anthony Barker, Jason, Blaise, and his wife, Sarah, and Marissa Nagy. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Carroll and Keith; his sisters, Ione Brandon and Pauline Powell; his step-sister, Frankie Schaub; and his parents.

Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Falls Lions Club, the Public Library, or the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Visitation: Linn’s Funeral Home, 1521 Washington Street, Iowa Falls, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 6, 2013.
Funeral service: The First Congregational United Church of Christ, 520 College Avenue, in Iowa Falls at 11:00 AM, Friday, June 7, 2013.
Interment: Union Cemetery, Iowa Falls, Iowa

The Don W. Barker Family

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