Obituary of Ardis Ellen Barnhart

Ardis Ellen Barnhart, 78, of rural West Branch, died Monday, November 10, 2014, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10 am Friday, November 14, 2014, at the Springdale United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at the Friends Cemetery in Springdale. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 pm Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Memorial donations can be made in her memory to Springdale United Methodist Church, Iowa City Hospice or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Ardis was born September 3, 1936, in Swisher, Iowa the daughter of Leonard and Lydia (Coufal) Shupitar. She attended country school south of Swisher and attended high school in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Roosevelt High School. She met her future husband, Donald J. Barnhart at the Swisher Ballroom; they were later married on September 1, 1957, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ely. The couple has farmed together and raised their family on their place east of West Branch since their marriage. Here Ardis enjoyed her gardens, her flowers, herding their cats, caring for family and friends, but most of all, she loved being married to the man she met nearly sixty years ago, and being Mom to Jill and Clint! She was a longtime member of the Springdale United Methodist Church and was very active in United Methodist Women. She truly enjoyed being a part of the Red Cedar Questers for many years and was blessed to have built close friendships with those ladies with whom she shared a thirst and "quest" for knowledge in all aspects of life. Her family includes her husband, Don; their children, Jill of West Branch and Clint of Las Vegas; and a number of cousins.