Obituary of Earl Barnes Sr

Earl W. Barnes Sr., 92, of Iowa City died Thursday, December 28, 2017, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10 am Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City where Military Honors will be rendered. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in his memory to Hospice of St. Luke’s in Cedar Rapids. To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family please go to the funeral home website www.gayandciha.com.

Earl William Barnes Sr. was born July 18, 1925, to John and Ella (Murphy) Barnes at their house at Morfordsville on Sand Road in rural Johnson County. He went to country school until the 8th grade when he went to work. Earl did farm work for Tim and Bessie Crowley and their daughter, Mary (Villhauer) becoming lifelong friends. With brother, Edward in the army, Earl enlisted in October of 1944. After training, he found himself in April of 1945 in the Philippines. On June 5, 1945, Earl was shot in the shoulder in an ambush, walked three days to a collection point and was operated on in a tent with a dirt floor. He received a Purple Heart in the recovery tent, and was Honorably Discharged in February of 1946.

On August 21, 1948, Earl married Elsie Krogh in Iowa City. They had four boys, Bill, Phil, Jerry and Steve. Later came precious daughter-in-law’s, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Earl and Elsie always lived in Iowa City where Earl worked for Nalls Chevrolet Dealership, Nalls Buick Garage, the Iowa City Post Office and as a Carpenter; building furniture, decks, remodels, and shingling roofs. They went to many softball games where Elsie watched Earl play. They enjoyed traveling extensively and playing the slots at the Casino.

His family includes sons and their wives, Phil & Carol Barnes, Jerry & Judy Barnes, and Steve & Becky Barnes; grandchildren, JP Krogh (Heather), Amy Brentlinger (Rush), Nathan Barnes (Lisette), Joel Barnes (Fallon), Christina Barnes, Nicholas Barnes, Cody Barnes (Monika), Zachary Barnes (Heather S.), Katilynn Barnes, Ashley Barnes and Jessica Barnes; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Losing Elsie in 2013 and health issues took a heavy toll on Earl. He fought it for years but left us on December 28th as we believe to be there with Elsie on her birthday December 29th!

Earl was preceded in death by this parents, wife, of 65 years, Elsie; son and his wife, Bill and Jan Barnes, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, a half brother and a half sister.