Barry Warren York

Barry York, 70, of State Center, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Unity Point Health- Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Memorial services for Barry will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Barry will be laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery in State Center, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Barry and his family.

Barry Warren York was born on March 7, 1955, in Bloomfield, Iowa. He was the son of Benjamin and Carolyn (Lamb) York. Barry graduated from Clarinda High School in 1973. On October 12, 1996, Barry was united in marriage to Tami Coleman at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.

Barry began his construction career as a boy working with his father. He was a 7th generation Master Builder and taught his sons, Bruce and Benjamin, the trade. He had his own business making custom trim and cabinetry. His legacy of creating art with wood can be seen in the renovation of the State Center Historic District, the Gutekunst Public Library, and too many homes to count. He worked at MICA for 23 years where he collaborated with weatherization heads around the country to improve housing for low-income families. He also taught electrician classes at DMACC and winterization classes for the Polk County Auditor’s office. He was proud of his work but didn’t brag about it. He taught his children that the quality of your work should speak for itself. He was always striving for excellence and not afraid to try what others would say was impossible. He taught his children that failure was a sign you are on the road to success- so don’t give up.

He had a wealth of knowledge and was a good storyteller but may have been a little “reckless with the truth.” He loved to laugh, tell jokes, and was known as a jolly person. He never met a stranger and would sit and talk with anyone. Barry had a big heart and believed people deserved second chances, which is why he employed formerly incarcerated people. His six grandchildren were Barry’s pride and joy. The grandkids loved to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house- they knew they would be spoiled or “well loved” as he liked to call it.

Barry is survived by his wife of twenty-eight years: Tami. Children: Renae Rudkin of Nevada and Benjamin York of State Center. Grandchildren: Katrina, Marissa, Daniel, Lance, Bennett and Samson. He is also survived by his siblings: Cindy (George) Brooks of Harlan, Cheryl (Larry) Johnson of Centerville, Bryan (Julie) York of Kettering, Ohio, Brant (Kathy) York of State Center and Carletta (Jeff) Markley of Mokane, Missouri along with uncle: Larry (Joyce) York of Cherokee and several nieces and nephews.

Barry is preceded in death by his son: Bruce, parents: Benjamin & Carolyn (Lamb) York, maternal grandparents: Arlie & Nellie (Martin) Lamb, and paternal grandparents: Bruce & Fern (Irvin) York.