Carl Walter BARKEMA

BARKEMA, EDEN, LIEBING, PURSELL, SCHULTE, THOMPSON, KUHLERS, SIVAM, HANSEN, GUDE, HOFACRE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/30/2008 at 00:09:38

ALEXANDER, IA - Carl Walter Barkema, 100, passed away peacefully Saturday (Dec. 17, 2008) at the Belmond Health Care Center. Carl, the third child of Flora (Eden) and Hans Barkema, was born on Jan. 18, 1908, on the Barkema section northeast of Alexander, Iowa. He attended schools in the area and graduated from Alexander Consolidated School. Carl worked on his parents' farm until about age 26 when he married Verla Margaret Liebing from Milbank, S.D. They lived in town, Carl working for the Schulte Grain Company and Verla giving piano lessons and boarding teachers. Margorie was born during this time in 1936. They then rented a Luick farm west of Alexander. While living there, three additional children were born to them: Dorothy in l939, Donald in 1941, and Duane in 1942. Most of the formative family years were spent on a Schulte farm seven miles northeast of Alexander. While living there, Norman was born in 1947. In 1956, Carl moved closer to Alexander. Carl was a lifelong member of the Alexander Reformed Church, served for decades as church treasurer, Sunday school superintendent, and consistory member. He also served on the fair board, school board, and a land assessor, all at the county level. In Carl's mid-60s, he and Verla built a home in Mesa, Ariz. They had lived there about half a year when Verla died suddenly in early 1978. They had been married 43 years. Carl then divided his time between his home in Mesa and the farm home in Iowa during the summer. In later years, he enjoyed golfing, bowling, and many friends. In 1983, he married Esther Pursell, and Mesa became his permanent home. He continued to visit family in Iowa and Wisconsin for a couple of weeks each spring and fall. Esther and Carl had been married about 16 years when they both began to have health problems. Carl came to live with daughter Dorothy in Wisconsin for two years, but Iowa was always his home. His last seven years were spent at the Belmond Health Care Center in Belmond.

Carl was preceded in death by his wife Verla; his parents; brother, George; and sisters, Alice Schulte, Florence Thompson, and Leona Kuhlers. He also was preceded in death by grandchildren, Karl Sivam and Deborah Hansen; and great-grandchild, Colton Gude. Carl's memory and legacy will live on with his five children: Margorie Hofacre, Hannibal, Mo.; Dorothy Sivam, Reedsburg, Wis.; Donald and Cheryl Barkema, Meservey; Duane and Diane Barkema, Alexander; and Norman and Nancy Barkema, Alexander; 17 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren (one also named Carl Barkema); and four great-grandchildren. He is further survived by brother, Foster and Evelyn Barkema, of Alexander, and Kansas City, Mo.; and his brother-in-law's wife, Ruth Liebing of Brookings, S.D.

Mason CityGlobe Gazette - Iowa
12/30/2008