Dan Ruckel BARNSLEY

BARNSLEY, RUCKEL, NOWELS, CLOSE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/16/2011 at 11:08:45

July 16, 1896 -- April 12, 1987

Dan Ruckel Barnsley, of Longmont, Colorado, died Sunday, April 12, 1987 at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital. He was 90. Mr. Barnsley was born July 16, 1896 in Vincent, Iowa, the son of Ulysses S. Barnsley and Ida Ruckel Barnsley. He moved to the area from Iowa in 1917 and married Jeanette Nowels on July 16, 1917 in Longmont, Colorado. Mr. Barnsley was instrumental in organizing the first National Guard unit in Longmont in 1937. He was commanding officer of the Longmont unit when the 45th Division was activated for duty in 1940. In 1942, the 45th Division was sent to Europe, where Mr. Barnsley served on the staff of Dwight D. Eisenhower until the end of World War II. He returned to Longmont in 1945 and was assigned to the Adjutant General's office of the Colorado National Guard in Denver, where he served until his retirement in 1954. Following his retirement, Mr. Barnsley and his wife returned to their mountain home near Meeker Park Lodge in Allenspark.

He is survived by his wife of Longmont; a son, two daughters; two sisters, Mary Barnsley of Glendale, Calif. and Geneva Close of Glendale, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchidren. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Howe Mortuary Chapel, the Rev. Lloyd Gibbs officiating. A private cremation will follow.