Funeral Message for Jerry Barber

Jerry Barber Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Goodwin-Sievers – Washington Funeral Home on Apr. 2, 2024.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jerry R. Barber, a beloved member of the Washington, IN community, on April 1, 2024 at the age of 72. Jerry was born on March 17, 1952, in his hometown of Washington.

Jerry was a dedicated farmer who found joy and fulfillment in working the land. His passion for agriculture extended beyond his profession, as he was actively involved in various agricultural organizations, including the Indiana Farm Bureau and the Daviess County 4-H Foundation. As a trustee and member of the Bethel Church of Washington, Jerry found solace in his faith and community.

An adventurous spirit, Jerry enjoyed driving around to explore and discover new things. His love for country life was evident in his commitment to helping his children with 4-H activities and engaging in activities that showcased his passion for farming and rural living. Jerry was known for his strong work ethic, always willing to lend a helping hand and never shying away from hard work. In his leisure time, Jerry cherished moments spent with his family, especially playing cards and euchre on Sunday nights. His enthusiasm for life and genuine kindness will always be remembered by those who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Maggie (Block) Barber of Washington, IN; his children, Sara (Kevin) Hoke of Carlisle, IN, Jeremy (Susan) Barber of Washington, IN, Keith (Jessica) Barber of Montgomery, IN, and Jonathon Barber of Washington, IN; grandchildren, Harper Hoke, Halle Hoke, Kamryn Barber, Kaleb Barber, and Hazel Barber; siblings, Karen St. John (Bill), Bette (Paul) Arison, Connie Ruark, Shirley (Brad) Ferree, Mark (Pam) Barber, Lisa (Tony) Tinkel, Dale (Janet) Barber, Tony (Cindy) Barber, and Amy Barber; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George W. Barber, and Helen (Keith) Barber.

Funeral Message

Psalm 46 NIV

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Jerry came from a big family. He was one of 10 siblings. I’ve heard stories about children in big families learning to get to dinner early and eat quickly, making sure they got something. But everyone has assured me that Jerry was never in a hurry for anything. He fit right in with farm life. Not so much in the big city. Maggie said he would not drive in Chicago if he could avoid it.

Loved Maggie, even if he didn't always make it home for supper. Jerry was never in a hurry. They were married 49 years and had been together for 50 this year.

Jerry loved being busy. He loved farming. He loved helping people by fixing things, and he always wanted them to do it right, even when sometimes he did not want to put in the money or resources to fix some of his own things. But when Maggie needed some extra help getting around after surgery, he remodeled the bathroom and had a pool put in for her. He wasn’t worried about himself. He was always thinking of others.

Jerry did many things for many people selflessly. Many of you benefited from Jerry’s helpful nature and resourcefulness. Our church has certainly benefited from all his help over the years. I have heard that he got that from his father before him, who passed it on to his children.

He could put his mind and his hands to any task. If he couldn't, he could get one of his boys to do it for him.

Earlier this week, his boys told me who inherited what from their dad. Jeremy got his jokes, Keith got his demeanor, and Johnny got his speed. Jerry was never in a hurry. I suspect Sara always had her dad’s heart.

Jerry loved joking around with people. Back in February, after Jerry had returned to Washington from a long stay in the hospital in Indianapolis, Maggie asked me to go in and pray for him. I had not been able to have a real conversation with him before, so I was not sure if he would hear me or even know who I was. I told him who I was, and he immediately woke up and let me know he couldn’t hear me in that ear. As I leaned over to talk into his good ear, I told him who I was and that I was going to pray for him. About 15 seconds into the prayer, Jerry asked me if I wanted to buy an "ammeter?”. I had no idea what an ammeter was. I had to go home and look it up to see exactly what kind of electrician tool he was trying to sell me. I told him no thank you and finished praying with him, and he told me he would see me in a couple of weeks. I’m still not sure if he was joking around with me that day or not.

Genesis 12:1–3 (NIV) 1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Blessed to be a blessing

God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12.

Land

Family

A name that would bless others

Unlike Abraham, God did not call Jerry to travel to a distant country. That may have been more of Maggie’s experience moving here from Chicago. But the promised land Jerry was to inherit, because of the invitation Jesus extended to him, was not here in Washington or here in this world. I think God has fields in heaven that have been waiting for Jerry for a while. Jerry was blessed with a big family here on earth, but the family waiting for him is bigger than we can imagine. And Jerry lived out that selfless, serving heart of Jesus and passed that on to you with a name that will continue to bless others forever.

Jerry passed away on April 1st this year. As the jokester he was, I think it was appropriate that he left us on April Fool’s Day. As one who lived a life serving others, I think it is fitting that he left us the day after Easter. But in the past few weeks, I’ve been talking with Jeremy and some of the other farmers in our community, trying to get my head around the farming culture here in Washington, and Jeremy let me know that the new Planting Season began for him on April 1 - the day Jerry passed.

I suspect that Jerry was not in a hurry to get home to heaven. He waited around through those years after the aneurysm to be with those he loved, even as frustrating as it was for him not to be able to do all the activities he used to love doing. But when heaven’s planting season started, Jesus came calling for Jerry to put on his work clothes because heaven’s fields were waiting for him.

God carried Jerry through the years, especially these last few years, and in many ways God did that through you all as his family. Some of you were taught that by Jerry himself. He has left you a temporary place here on earth. He has left you a big family to be a part of together. And He has left you a name that means something.

I’m sure there have been days when you have felt like you had no choice, you had to do what you had to do. But the beauty of the legacy that Jerry left you is that you always have a choice. You have a legacy of serving others in the community, of helping mend the things that need mending and fixing the things that need fixing, and like Jerry, I expect it will happen in your own ways and in your own time. And you have the choice to share that gift with others.

God will carry you through this time, just as He always has, and Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you in our eternal home together, just as he prepared a place for Jerry. Jesus will continue to be the rock that can hold you all together until that great family reunion in heaven.

Would you pray with me?

Lord, we thank you for the gift that Jerry has been to each one of us. We thank you for Your love that came through him as a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and grandfather, an uncle, and as a friend. We are grateful that Jerry is free and suffering no more, but we pray for your spirit of comfort upon us gathered here. Send us your peace that goes beyond our understanding to draw us together in the midst of our loss.

Following the Committal Service at the cemetery at Bethel South, everyone is invited for a fellowship meal here at North Campus downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.

Committal Service

In the midst of life, we are in death; from whom can we seek help? (NINTH CENTURY)

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. (PSALM 124:8, UMH 846)

God who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through the Spirit that dwells in you. (ROMANS 8:11, ALT.)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure. You, [Lord,] show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (PSALM 16:9, 11, UMH 748)

Eternal God, you have shared with us the life of Jerry Barber. Before he was ours, he is yours. For all that Jerry has given us to make us what we are, for that of him which lives and grows in each of us, and for his life that in your love will never end, we give you thanks. As now we offer Jerry back into your arms, comfort us in our loneliness, strengthen us in our weakness, and give us courage to face the future unafraid. Draw those of us who remain in this life closer to one another, make us faithful to serve one another, and give us to know that peace and joy which is eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.