Noah Dean Barks Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Noah “Dean” Barks was born April 16, 1934, on the family farm near Sheridan, Missouri to Kenneth E. and Ruth E. (Gunson) Barks. Dean attended a one-room school, the Lone Star School, through 8th grade. He graduated from Bedford High School in Bedford, Iowa in 1952. He played football while in high school, but his favorite sport was baseball, the love for which he passed on to his sons at an early age, by teaching them the fundamentals and desire to play the game. After graduation, Dean attended two years at Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa (which is about 25 miles from Ottumwa, Iowa) where he met his bride-to-be, Laura Jo Argo. They were married on May 8, 1955. Dean served in the U.S. Army from 1957-1959, taking his Boot Camp in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and additional training at Ft. Lee in Virginia, and his final assignment was in Ft. Clayton in Panama, where he served for 18 months. He was employed with John Morrell & Co. in Ottumwa, Iowa for 22 years, and retired from Hillshire Farm after 16 years as a Sales Representative. Upon his retirement, they sold their home in Omaha, and moved to Belle Vista, Arkansas. Soon after, he purchased a golf cart and trailer, spending many enjoyable (and some not so enjoyable, depending on the outcome of the game) days a week on the many courses. They spent 11 ½ years making new friends and getting involved in the church. Dean’s health began to deteriorate, and, with encouragement from family members who wanted their parents closer to them, they sold their home and moved back to Omaha. Dean is survived by wife of 63 years, Laura Jo (Argo) Barks, two sons, Michael Barks (Kim) of Lincoln, NE and Brian Barks (Eileen) of Bennington, NE, four grandchildren: Laura and Hannah, and Matthew and Olivia, one great granddaughter, Scarlett, and his sister Virginia Winston (Jack) of Shawnee Mission, KS. Dean loved his family and they always came first. He raised his sons and watched his 4 grandchildren (Laura, Hannah, Matthew, and Olivia) grow to young adulthood. He was a devoted husband. Noah “Dean” Barks, of Bennington passed away 8/15/18. He is survived by wife Laura Jo, sons Michael Barks (Kim), and Brian Barks (Eileen) 4 grandchildren: Laura, Hannah, Matthew, Olivia, and great granddaughter Scarlett, sister Virginia (Jack) Winston of Shawnee Mission, KS. Celebration of Life Service: Monday, August 20, 2018 at 10:30 at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn with a lunch reception to follow. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Food Bank for the Heartland or St. Croix Hospice.

Noah Dean Barks

April 16, 1934 - August 15, 2018