In Memory of Sheryl L. Barnes

Sheryl L. Barnes, age 77, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Luann Benge will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Sheryl L. (Parker) Barnes of Ida Grove, Iowa, is finally at peace and free of a physical body that trapped such a beautiful soul.  Many thanks to the kind and caring staff at Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove for helping to make her final days as comfortable as possible. 

Sheryl was born on February 4, 1945, to Harold and Delores (Dutler) Parker.  She is survived by her husband, George C. Barnes III, her two daughters, Michelle (Travis) Barnes, Angela (Delvin) Sadler and son, George (Abby) Barnes IV, grandsons, William, Joshua & George V; three brothers, Rich (Barb), Ron (Deb), Wes (Sue) and one sister, Deb, along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Delores Parker of Holstein, Iowa. 

In 1963 Sheryl graduated from Holstein High School and pursued her love of music at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music and teaching degree in 1967.  She landed her first job teaching vocal music to middle school students at Sheffield-Chapin Community School. It was here that she met the love of her life in a young navy sailor, George, while he was home on leave before transferring to his next duty station in Japan.  Shortly thereafter he invited her to visit him, and they began a whirlwind romance that culminated in wedding vows at the Naval Security Group Station in Kamiseya, Japan on September 6, 1968.  Their first daughter, Michelle was born in Sagamihara, Japan and they had their second daughter, Angela in Yokosuka, Japan.  Sheryl gave piano lessons to the dependent children of military parents stationed on the base where George worked.

While in Yokohama, they purchased a Yamaha upright piano on which Sheryl taught countless piano students all over the world.  That piano traveled with them to Bremerhaven and Augsburg, Germany; Pensacola, Florida; Guam; San Diego, California, (where their son, George IV was born); Virginia Beach, Virginia, and finally in July of 1989, to their home on the acreage of the H. E. Parker Farm, North of Ida Grove. This was her home as a child until the age of ten. Here she resumed her piano teaching and continued teaching until she was no longer able.  Sheryl was a devoted piano teacher and sharing her love of music with her piano students meant everything to her.  She was known for her high expectations, positive, caring and supportive nature, and often served as a mentor for her piano students. 

Sheryl was also a woman of quiet but profound faith and lived her life accordingly.  Throughout her life, she was deeply involved in church activities and in the early years played the organ for church services on base, sang in church choirs nearly everywhere they went, directed children’s choirs, and played the piano for the church services in First United Methodist Church of Ida Grove, where she also hosted 31 festival recitals featuring her many students over the years.   In addition to music, Sheryl loved both flower and vegetable gardening, preserving the produce from the gardens, cooking, and spending time with family.  Her three grandsons were the light of her life.  We are all very blessed to have known and been loved by such an amazing woman who has touched so many lives.  For all the piano moms and dads out there, thank you for sharing your children with her.  They provided her with motivation, purpose, and inspiration always, but especially through the last few very difficult years.  For that we will always be grateful!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be donated to the United Methodist Church of Ida Grove.