Barnes M.D., Arthur Eddy

Arthur Eddy Barnes M.D. of Cedar Rapids went to be with his Lord and Savior Wednesday evening, March 27, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center, surrounded by loving family and friends. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Pastors Phil Jorgensen and Lynn L'Abbe will officiate. Visitation will be at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Tripoli, Iowa.

Dr. Barnes was born Jan. 6, 1933, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Mary Alice (Eddy) Barnes and Forrest Austin Barnes DDS. His maternal grandparents were Arthur George Eddy and Lillian Rachel (Day) Eddy. His paternal grandparents were Austin B. Barnes and Hannah Marie (Karlson) Barnes. The family moved to Ames, Iowa when he was 5 years old.

He graduated from Ames High School in 1951. As the center on the Ames High School undefeated football team in his senior year he was voted 2nd Team All-State and 1st Team All-Conference. There were no playoffs so the team was selected mythical state champions and voted one of the top teams in the United States. His quarterback said that his center was the perfect center for a quarterback like him.

Dr. Barnes proceeded to Northwestern University, where he ran track, was in NROTC and was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He entered the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and spent two years at Fort Hood, Texas. Following his Army service he continued his college education at the University of Iowa and was accepted into Dental School. In the summer of 1955, he met his future wife, Marian, was doing exceptionally well in science courses and changed his career choice to medicine.

Art and Marian were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Siegel, Iowa, on Sept. 16, 1956, before Marian's second year in medical school. He graduated in 1962. They both interned at Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, and went on to Family Practice in Cedar Rapids. After 34 years of busy practice, he retired in January 1997.

His life was full with much time with their sons, Michael and Eric. He took up running in the 1960s, proceeded to skiing regularly at Vail, Colo., and then rode RAGBRAI 25 times.

He enjoyed golf, going to Hawkeye football and basketball games and was able to closely follow their sons' activities in the Cedar Rapids schools and at Coe College. The family enjoyed traveling to most of the United States, went to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. He and Marian traveled extensively outside the U.S., to Antarctica, Europe, and China. Also to Hawaii and Alaska. Their airplane trip around Mount McKinley on a clear day was an incredible experience. Some of their traveling involved RVing with Winnebago groups, making longtime friends from Chicago and Texas. He enjoyed geocaching with Marian and frequently said “Let's go caching today.” They found 363 caches, mostly in Iowa and California, but also in 15 other states. It led them to some very unusual sites.

Art thoroughly enjoyed singing in the church choir, some solos, attending church services, serving on the council, going to Bible study, and reading the Bible nearly daily. He volunteered at the Community Health Free Clinc a number of years.

He was a member of the Iowa Medical Society, Linn County Medical Society and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was granted Fellowship in the AAFP and was certified, by examination, by the American Board of Family Practice as a charter member in 1970 and recertified by examination every six years.

Art is survived by Marian, his wife of 56 years; by his son, Michael and wife Erin Wells of Boulder Creek, Calif.; by his son, Eric, grandson, Jagger, granddaughter, Jaclyn, and daughter-in-law, Carolyn, of Peachtree City, Ga.; his grandson, Andrew and wife Lindsey, and three great-granddaughters, all of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Darleen Murry, her husband, Chuck, and sister, Marian Rachel Barger, all of California; his brother, Dr. Forrest Barnes and wife Mary Ann of Ames; his sister, Margaret Alice Hearson and husband Robert of Pennsylvania; numerous nieces and nephews; and his brother-in-law, James Lahmann.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Harriet Grinstead.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to donor's choice or to Camp Tanager, Camp Courageous, Community Health Free Clinic or Red Cedar Chamber Music.

The family extends its gratitude to the doctors and Mercy Medical Center staff who provided excellent care and caring to Dr. Barnes during his last illness. Also a special thanks to the Linn County Physical Therapy staff over the past two years.

Please leave a message or tribute on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

Published March 30, 2013 in The Gazette