Gerald Francis Barnes

Gerald Francis (Jerry) Barnes died on February 2, 2023, surrounded by family. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 11, 2023 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport. The Mass will be livestreamed by clicking https://www.facebook.com/stpauldisciples   Visitation will be held in the gathering space at church on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport, or your favorite charity.  Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jerry was born November 20, 1938, in Davenport, Iowa. He was the son of Joseph Francis Barnes and Marie (Kelly) Barnes, both of Davenport. He graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Grade School in 1952, and from St Ambrose Academy in 1956. He married Valerie Jean Brunstrom on July 17, 1965, at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.

Jerry was the first person in his family to graduate from college, graduating from the University of Iowa. He held the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (1961), Master of Science in Structural and Foundations Engineering (1970), and Master of Science in Professional Management (1977). He was a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

He served on active duty in the U.S. Army from October 1961 to October 1963. His time of service included the building of the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the MLK March in Washington DC where he was stationed at the time, the early years of the war in Vietnam, and the final years of President John F. Kennedy.

Jerry worked as an engineer for a total of 22 years at the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Army Material Command, and the Rock Island Arsenal. He worked another 22 years as a consulting engineer in the private sector. He specialized in the design of waterfront projects and structures, and design for heavy marine construction. He was an Honorary Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was also an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus and has been a member of numerous other civic, church, and engineering organizations. He was a past-president of the St. Paul the Apostle Church Parish Council.

Jerry most enjoyed his grandchildren, growing flowers and puttering around the yard, Hawkeye football, drinking beer with family and many friends, Irish music, and entertaining everyone with his jokes and infectious laugh. He loved and admired his wife, children, and grandchildren, and they loved and admired him. Christmas was his favorite time of year, with the entire family gathering every year for epic celebration.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie, daughters Jennifer Barnes of Seattle, Washington, Amy (Craig) Ray and Wendy Barnes of Bettendorf, Iowa, and sons Patrick (Tammy) Barnes of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Andrew (Lisa) Barnes of Bettendorf; grandchildren Mollie Ray (Nick Barth), Natalie and Sophie Ray, Jenna Marxen, Charlotte and Sam Barnes; sisters-in-law Pamela Brunstrom and Kay Barnes; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would also like to recognize the friendship and support of neighbor John Hernandez.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, his two sisters and brothers-in-law Mary Ellen Barnes (Harold) Beard and Jeanette A. Barnes (Bill) Rada, and two brothers and sister-in-law Thomas J. (Margie) Barnes and Joseph P. Barnes.