A memorial service for John Charles Barber will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 5, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson, IA, with a luncheon served after the service.  Memorials may be sent to the family in care of the funeral home for donation to Hospice of Central Iowa or the Jefferson-Scranton School Foundation. 

John Charles Barber lived from Feb. 8, 1912, until Sept. 24, 2007.  He was born in Glenwood, IA, to Emmett Eugene and Louisa Agenstein Barber.  On May 1, 1936, he married Virginia Anthony.  He is survived by their 3 children – Joanne Farrell and husband Dave of Dunnellon, FL, Kathleen Lashier and husband Jack of Des Moines, IA, and David Barber of Monterey, CA, and 4 grandsons and their families – Mark and Peggy Farrell and Dustin, Greg and Autumn Farrell, Andy and Jenny Lashier and Ellie, and Jackson and Julie Lashier.  John also has 1 surviving sister, Evelyn Ruby of Mason City, IA, and many nieces and nephews.

John’s childhood home was near Pony Creek, where he and his friends spent many hours exploring, finding artifacts, and hunting and fishing to supply meat for the family table.  During this time, he developed his life-long love of the outdoors.  His adventures also formed the basis for the many stories he told, such as “Johnny Got Lost in the Woods”.  His children and grandchildren loved to hear his stories that often started with “One time, me and ole’ Dan’l Boone . . .”

John attended Graceland College in Lamoni, IA, and then served in the Navy during WWII.  After the war, John and Virginia lived in Des Moines for many years where he built homes, sold real estate, managed and worked in a service station, and finally returned to college at Drake University.  The family moved to Jefferson, where he was a teacher and principal until he retired.  Moving to WI, John and Virginia bought a home on Bass Lake, where they enjoyed boating, fishing, and watching their 2 older grandsons grow up.  In 1991, they returned to IA, and lived in Marshalltown, where they were able to spend many hours with their 2 younger grandsons.  Later, John lived in Clear Lake and ended his days back in Des Moines.

In each place they lived, John and Virginia made many good friends and supported school, community and church projects, usually with their musical talent.  Their homes were always filled with music and humor.  Family members find themselves using Grandpa’s well-known and colorful sayings.  Participating in water sports, playing games together, and sitting around the fire telling stories are traditions that continue in the family.  John’s great humor, honesty, sense of decency, and pioneer spirit are a legacy that his children and grandchildren strive to emulate.