Robert Douglas Barnes

Robert “Bob” Douglas Barnes died in Omaha, Nebraska on the morning of October 8th, 2023. He was thankful to be surrounded by his loving wife and three sons in the closing days of his life. Bob was born on January 25, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland to Robert and Geneva Barnes. He was raised in a household with his older brother David, younger sister Linda, and his aunts Em and Helen. He graduated from Chesapeake High School in 1962 and began working for the American Can Company located on the harbor in Baltimore. Bob joined the Army Reserves in February 1963 which coincided with what would be a momentous career change as he took his first job at Western Electric (WE) working on the floor of a manufacturing warehouse. Known for his work ethic and drive, Bob progressed quickly in his career at WE throughout management and company changes. While he excelled on the manufacturing floor, his love for people and thoughtfulness were quickly noticed by management and led to his promotion, ultimately making him an indispensable asset to an ever-changing company. In 1983, the Baltimore division of WE was closing and moving to Omaha, Nebraska, and Bob was faced with a difficult decision: to transfer or to find a new job. A tough decision in his mind at the time, he was leaving his family, local community, and most important, his yacht on the Chesapeake Bay. Faced with this dilemma, Bob made his way to Omaha in May 1983 to evaluate the potential move. As fate would have it, this business trip sealed his decision. In the parking lot of his hotel, he ran across a young business woman, Deanna Krumm, traveling from Cedar Rapids for work. Bob was a smooth talker, and upon seeing Deanna, he approached her and keenly stated, “My friends say there are no pretty girls in the Midwest. Do you mind if I take your picture to prove them wrong?” Deanna happily obliged. That same night Bob proposed, asking “would you marry me,” in an attempt to scare Deanna’s hiccups away over Happy Hour drinks. This began their long-distance courtship of expensive phone calls and romantic letters that set the foundation for an everlasting love. They wed on the record cold evening of December 28, 1983 in Brooklyn, Iowa (Deanna’s home town). Following a short honeymoon in beautiful Iowa City, they moved to Omaha together to begin their life. Bob continued to progress up the ladder as WE expanded in Omaha. His employees valued his voice as a manager and advocate, ensuring his role as a leader when Western Electric changed directions and ownership to AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Avaya Communications, and finally, Connectivity Solutions Manufacturing. He retired in February 2006 after 43 years of service. His dedication to his employees and work was evident even after his retirement. Bob could not walk into the local hardware store without a former coworker stopping him and his family to express gratitude and share a story of his support in the workplace. Bob and Deanna celebrated their marriage for 5 years while settling into life in Omaha, with road trips to Yellowstone, Florida, and Baltimore before they welcomed the first of three sons, Greg in 1988, followed by Bobby and Jon in 1992 and 1996, respectively. From that point on, Bob dedicated his life to raising his sons. His time outside of work was dedicated to his family… and his golf handicap. An avid golfer, Bob regularly played in leagues, attended golf trips with friends, and won tournaments. As with everything in his life, he had ultimate dedication to improving his golf game. Meticulous afternoons on the putting green and driving range, even “intentionally” cutting off a portion of his right middle finger (with a lawn mower) to improve his slice. If you know Bob Barnes, you know of his fear of blood, and how this act showed ultimate dedication to his craft. He simultaneously improved his slice and his ability to communicate with competitors, deeming it the “half bird salute”. His love for family often took the shape of projects: entire furniture sets for his sons’ nursery, over-constructed school projects that should have been disqualified from a child’s competition, homemade baseball training contraptions, and of course, complete home renovations. No project was too big for Bob to take on with Deanna at his side. They were the perfect couple, the brains, Bob, and the brawn, Deanna— occasionally interchanging roles but always a singular unit. They thrived together: bouncing complex and often lofty ideas off each other that eventually led to the ambitious demolition of a cabin to simply rebuild it back from scratch. For Bob, it was not the completed project he loved, but the time spent with Deanna and his three boys. Sleeping under the stars after deconstructing a cabin board by board, margaritas after plumbing projects, and Christmas songs that have become inseparable from a holiday bathroom renovation. His handiness, aptitude, and potentially his dedication (to a fault) for projects was passed on to his three sons; or at least two of his sons… Bobby knows when it’s time to call the repairman. His love and dedication will continue to resonate through those he touched and his family as it continues to grow. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Deanna; sons Greg (Rachael), Bobby (Claire), and Jon; grandsons Rhett and Knox (Greg & Rachael); aunt Em; sister-in-law Sandy; brother-in-law Norb; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents and two siblings: sister Linda and brother David. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 6:00pm, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church (20227 Veteran's Drive, Elkhorn)

Robert Douglas Barnes

January 25, 1944 - October 8, 2023