Robert Louis Barney Sr.

DRAKESVILLE: Robert Louis Barney Sr., 64, went to his heavenly home on September 7, 2008 after an eleven-month battle with pancreatic cancer.  Bob was a friend to so many, and a stranger to no one. A devout Christian, he was a living example of the words of Matthew 5:16:  “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

Bob understood that any circumstance, good or bad, was an opportunity to share Christ and the gift of eternal life with others.  He had a profound effect on all the lives he touched: from the Little League teams he coached, to the Boy Scout Troops he led, to the Sports Clubs he belonged to, to the homeless he served in the Chicago Park District with Norwood Gospel Chapel, to the painters he worked with at O’Hare, Meigs Field and Midway airports, to Painters’ Local 275 where he served as an officer for many years.

After retiring as Painting Foreman of Midway and O’Hare Airports in March 2004, Bob became even more active with his church outreach activities, and continued feeding the homeless near his Drakesville, Iowa farm until he grew too sick to proceed with that ministry.

Bob’s favorite pastime was sharing his love of all God’s creatures and his wonder at God’s creation with his children and grandchildren.  He was most at peace sitting on the backyard dock with a fishing pole in one hand and an icy mug of RC Cola in the other, surrounded by the people he loved.

Bob also enjoyed watching sports – everything from the grade school and high school games of his children and grandchildren to his beloved Chicago Cubs.  He was one of those fans who would wear a Cubs hat, t-shirt, shorts, and even Cubs socks to a “Crosstown Classic” at U.S. Cellular field.

His devotion to his Cubbies, his work, his family, but most of all to his Lord, was apparent in his every action.  He was a loving, caring companion to his wife for 33 wonderful years; a protector, provider, and nurturing father to his seven children; and a teller of clean jokes, player of card games, and dispenser of sugar to his 17 grandchildren.

Bob lived his life to the glory of God, wrapped in the love of his Savior, Jesus Christ.  And he always made sure that when he left a person, that person was closer to Jesus than when he’d first met them . . . .

He is survived by his wife Janet; daughter Brenda Smith (Lance Boerjan); sons Michael (Vita), James (Tabitha), Dennis (Ellen Zyniewicz), Jason (Jennifer), Dean (Melanie), and Robert II; sisters Karen (Fred) Buhler and Thora Jean Rhode; father-in-law Jay Batson; ex-wife Cheryl Myhrvold; 17 grandchildren and 14 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one nephew, one granddaughter, three mothers-in-law, and a father-in-law.

“Celebration of Life” Services will be held at Wildwood Evangelical Free Church, 308 Wildwood Drive, Ottumwa, Iowa on September 11, 2008 at 6 o’clock in the evening.  Bob requested that no one wear black as this is a blessed event.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Iowa Hospice Foundation at www.iowahospice.org, PanCAN at www.panCAN.org, or Wildwood Church.  Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Iowa is assisting the family.