Robert Barker

Robert Barker

Montezuma. Robert Barker, 80 of Montezuma passed away Monday, September 20, 2010 at his home. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home with Pastor George Salnave officiating. Interment will be held in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter at 2:00 pm Thursday. Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the funeral home with the family to greet friends and relatives from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grinnell Regional Hospice or the American Cancer Society.

General Robert E. Barker, son of James and Flossie (Sedam) Barker was born on March 10, 1930 in Seneca, Kansas. Bob graduated from Seneca High School. After high school, Bob’s family relocated to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he began working for Dempster Mill Manufacturing. Bob worked his way up through the company and eventually was assigned as a traveling representative for northern Iowa. On February 1, 1952, Bob was united in marriage to Carole C. Hansen. To this union three children were born, Dana, David and Mary. Bob enlisted in the Army National Guard and retired as a Director of Maintenance at Camp Dodge, Iowa. During his retirement Bob was recalled to head up the Joint Mortuary Affairs in Dover, Delaware during Operation Desert Storm. Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, bowling, golfing and volunteering at the Museum at Camp Dodge. He was a member of the Oskaloosa VFW and the Moose Lodge in Mesa, Arizona.

Bob is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carole of Montezuma; three children, Dana (Tom) Konchalski of Omaha, David Barker of Ankeny and Mary Burnett of Phoenix, Arizona; four grandchildren, James Reeves, Jason Reeves, Ashley Barker and Zane Barker and five great grandchildren, Rochelle, Erika, Laila, Shaylee and Kayden.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, James and Flossie Barker; his brother, James Barker and a son-in-law.

Source: Holland-Coble Funeral Home