Troy Anthony Barkema

Troy Anthony Barkema

Colona, Ill.

Troy Anthony Barkema, 53, of Colona, Ill.,

formerly

of Mechanicsville, passed away Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. A Celebration of Life for Troy will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at the American Legion in Muscatine. Lunch will be served.

Troy was born June 15, 1969, in Britt, Iowa, the son of Bob and Suzanne Barkema. Troy graduated from Muscatine High School in 1988. He attended Muscatine Community College before starting his career with IE, now Alliant Energy, in 1990 as a journeyman lineman. He worked there for 22 years. He continued to do lineman work after leaving Alliant until present. In 1997 Troy married Amy (Jilovec) Barkema and had one son Blake. They divorced in 2008. He later married Chris Mercer in 2015. Troy had a love for the outdoors. He dearly enjoyed teaching and taking Blake pheasant hunting through the years with their dogs Sandy, Sadie, Cane and Suzie. Many family fishing vacations were taken to Minnesota. Fishing trips to Canada with his Dad, brother, Blake and long time family friends. Hunting trips to South Dakota and weekend hunting trips to Western Iowa to hunt pheasants with his his great friend Crazy (Kirk). In his spare time, Troy did woodworking and rebuilt and restored old Allis Chalmer tractors, with his dad, brother, and Blake right by his side. All who knew Troy will remember him having a heart of gold and always willing to help anyone. Troy will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him, including his long time buddy, Scott Miller, who always had his back.

He is also survived by his son, Blake Barkema of Mechanicsville; parents, Bob and Suzanne Barkema of Muscatine; brother, Travis (Kris) Barkema of Washington, Iowa; nephew, Chase Barkema; and niece, Halle Barkema.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Willis and Lena Barkema, and Clifton and Shirley Larson; and uncles, Wally Barkema and Paul Barkema.