Jane E. Barker, age 74 of Rock Rapids, IA died on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at the Rock Rapids Health Centre.
Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, June 6th at the United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids, with Rev. Marcia Sangel officiating.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 5th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.
Jane Elizabeth Barker was born April 24, 1939 in Storm Lake, Iowa, the daughter of Paul and Helen (Jolliffe) Turner. She was raised in the Storm Lake and Carroll area. Her mother remarried Ralph Crane and Jane spent most of her early life in Carroll. She graduated from Carroll High School in 1957. She continued her education at the University of South Dakota where received her teacher’s degree in 1961. Until her marriage, she went by the name of Jane Crane.
In 1961 Jane began her teaching career of 39 years at Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids, Iowa. On June 16, 1962 she was united in marriage to Ken Barker at her parents’ home in Carroll, Iowa. After she retired from full time teaching she filled in as a substitute teacher for many more years.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids, where she was active with various church activities. She also was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Sorority, Phi Chapter. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, walking, reading, community service and trips to the lakes. She especially loved dotting on her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Ken Barker of Rock Rapids, IA; two children, Brett Allen Barker of Sioux Falls, SD and Brooke Lynne (husband Kyle) Barber of Fort Dodge, IA; four grandchildren, Jordynn Barker of Sioux Falls, SD, Spencer , Noelle and Grant Barber, all of Fort Dodge, IA; a sister, Beverly (husband Fred) Hendrickson of Redmond, WA; two brothers, Marshall (wife Rhonda) Crane of Spirit Lake, IA and Steve ( wife Rhonda) Crane of Chicago, IL; and many other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Turner; mother, Helen Mailliard; and step-father, Ralph Crane.
