James Barnes “Jack”

James Barnes “Jack”, 85, of Eldora, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 of natural causes at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Funeral services for Jack will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021 at the Honey Creek Friends Meetinghouse with Pastor Arlen Daleske officiating. Public visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, facemasks will be required prior to entering the facility and to keep everyone safe there will not be any luncheon following the service. Jack will be laid to rest at the Honey Creek Cemetery immediately following services. Memorial contributions may be directed in Jack’s name to his family. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.

Jack was born October 21, 1935 in Zearing, Iowa, to Charles and Polly Choate Barnes. He was united in marriage to Emma Catherine Stewart “Kitty” on January 24, 1959. To this union was born two daughters, Patty (Rob) Thompson of New Providence and Beth Smith of Cedar Rapids.

Jack worked for 31 years at the State Training School, retiring in 1996. In his free time, Jack enjoyed golfing and building custom golf clubs for others in his shop “Barney’s Golf” and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In addition to his daughters, Jack is survived by three grandchildren who were the light of his life: Megan Thompson-Hansen (Adam) of Des Moines, IA, Gabe (Maddy) Smith of Louisville, KY, and Olivia Smith of Cedar Rapids, IA; sister, Zora Teater of New Providence, brother, Terry (Liz) Barnes of State Center, IA, niece, Shellie Murphy and nephews, Mike Murphy of Eldora, IA, and Nick (Jackie) Barnes of State Center, IA.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Emma Catherine “Kitty” Barnes and his parents, Charles and Polly Barnes.

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