Clara Rose Barker

Clara Rose (Rosie) Barker, 85, of Marshalltown died on November 30, 2018 at Grandview Heights Nursing and Rehab Center in Marshalltown, Iowa. She rejoins Phil, her husband of 67 years; heaven will never be the same. Funeral services for Rosie will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Public visitation will be held one hour prior to services. For further information or to send a condolence please visit: www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home was entrusted with the care of Rosie and her family. Clara Rose Weidner was born on January 9, 1933 at home in Green Castle Township, Marshall County, Iowa to Arthur Simon and Chloe Wilma (Walker) Weidner. Rosie grew up on a farm and attended country primary school. She attended Marshalltown High School, buying a used coupe so she could drive herself and arrive on time, graduating May 31, 1951. Rosie loved to roller skate and met her future husband at the old Forest Park skating rink in Marshalltown. Rosie married Phillip Frederick Barker on July 14, 1951 at the First United Methodist Church in Marshalltown. Rosie worked at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for a time, then ran a home day care so she could care for her sons, Eric and Derrick, until they graduated from school. Later Rosie worked for the Penny Saver and Times Republican. Rosie and Phil enjoyed roller skating at Skate Town almost every weekend until, to their disappointment, it closed. They spent many hours bicycling around Marshalltown. Rosie dedicated her life to her family. She raised two sons to be champion athletes and documented their accomplishments in detailed scrap books. She was very involved with her grandchildren often hosting sleepovers. She attended every athletic event of theirs she could and was their number one fan and cheerleader. For many years she hosted Sunday suppers for her sons and their families. She was a wonderful cook and a gracious hostess. Left to celebrate her life are two sons, Eric (Carol) Barker and Derrick (Peggy) Barker; sisters-in-law: Shirley Weidner of Toledo, Iowa Carol Weidner Miller of Marshalltown and Mary Weidner of Ralston, Iowa; grandchildren: Ben (Kirsten) Barker of Marshalltown, Ashlee (Corey) Stupp of Marshalltown, and Andrea Petermeier of Conrad, Iowa; great-grandchildren: Marcus and Lincoln Barker, Zander and Emma Stupp, and Emmitt and Eathan Petermeier; and nieces and nephews. Rosie was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Dorothy Spinler; her brothers Hershal, Charlie, Harold, and Richard; and her husband Phil.