Jerry Duane Barker, 83, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2026, at Henry County Health Center.

He was born on April 17, 1943, in Creston, Iowa, to Guelda (Stamper) and Donald Shrimpton. Jerry’s father Donald was killed in action January 10, 1945, at Luzon during WWII, and he was later adopted by his stepfather Marshall Barker.

Jerry grew up on the family farm in Ringgold County, graduating from Mt. Ayr High School in 1961. While in school, Jerry met his future wife Jean (Pottorff) Barker, going on their first date in 1959. They were married on September 1, 1963.

Jerry graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1965, and then attended graduate school at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. Jerry and Jean settled in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1967, where Jerry began his career at Blue Bird Midwest, working in customer relations, personnel management and various other management positions until the company closed the Mt. Pleasant location in 2002.

Jerry was well known throughout the community for selling Christmas trees at Barker’s Oakland Acres at Oakland Mills, where he eventually built a home. He loved traveling to Wisconsin every year and bringing back trees for his loyal customers and friends. He was passionate about meeting people and helping them find the perfect tree.

Jerry was a very hard worker and accomplished many things during his life. He served as Cub and Boy Scouts area youth leader. He was involved in reforestation management, planting thousands of pine trees over the years, often working with Pheasants Forever. He also served as secretary, president and director at Access Energy Cooperative. Jerry was a board member and organizer for the Southeast Iowa Blood Center, served as president of the Lions Club and was lay leader and board trustee of the First United Methodist Church.

Jerry was a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather. He cherished time spent with family, especially taking them on vacations and adventures. He absolutely loved taking family and friends on canoe trips on the Current River in southern Missouri. Another of his passions was taking Jeep trips through the San Juan Mountains in Colorado.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Jean Barker of Mt. Pleasant, daughter Karmen (David) Smith of New London, and son Darrel (Diann) Barker of Madison, WI. Three grandchildren, Bradyn Smith of New London, Lindsay Smith of St. Petersburg, FL, and Zachary Parker of Waterloo, IA. He is also survived by two sisters, Janet (Jim) Knedler of Topeka KS, and Marlys (Chuck) Meacham of Tucson, AZ.

Jerry was preceded in death by his mother Guelda Barker in 2025, stepfather Marshall Barker, father Donald Shrimpton and his beloved uncles Donald Stamper, Doyle Stamper and Phillip Stamper.

Friend may sign the register book from 9AM to 5PM on Monday, October 12 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. There will be no family visitation. A memorial funeral service for Jerry will be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, October 13th at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Court Fischer, Senior Pastor, will officiate. The service will be livestreamed over the First United Methodist Church website, You-Tube Channel or Facebook page.

Those considering an expression of sympathy may, in lieu of flowers, direct memorials to All God’s Creatures Animal Shelter or Preserve Oakland Mills – Save the Bridge. On-Line condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfh.com