Ruth Ann Van Essen who was born on July 15, 1925, was the sixth child born to Frank and Anna Keuning Van Essen. She grew up as a farm girl around the Otley and Pella, Iowa area. Ruth became a school teacher at age 17 on an emergency certificate when World War II broke out. On August 12, 1943, she married Cecil Clyde Barnes and to this union three children were born: Diane Sue, Bonnie Jean and Don Clark. Cecil and Ruth spent their life together farming in Marion County near Bussey, Iowa until his death in 1988. In 1989 Ruth moved to Pella where she attended the Berean Baptist Church for nearly 20 years. She shared her love of God with all those around her by all the prayers she prayed for people and by the many kind things she was always doing for her neighbors, friends and family. Ruth was an excellent cook and gardener. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed writing. On 83rd birthday, July 15, 2008, she passed away in the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella following a battle with cancer. Ruth was a wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister and a follower of Jesus Christ. She is survived by her three children: two daughters: Diane Anderson and her husband, Bob of Stapleton, Nebraska; Bonnie Walters and her husband, Carl of Centennial, Colorado; a son Don Barnes and his wife Charlene of Knoxville, Iowa; and five grandchildren: Kim, JoJo, and Matt Walters; Robbie Barnes, Kerri Barnes Bickerstaff and her husband Zach and their son, Tanner, Ruth's great-grandson. Ruth is also survived by her sister, Theresa (Homer) Rempe of Oskaloosa, Iowa and a brother-in-law, Raymond Barnes of Boone, Iowa. She will be greatly missed by all those whose life she touched. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil C. Barnes; her parents, Frank and Anna Van Essen; a brother Francis Van Essen who died as an infant, her sister, Tonetta (Van Essen) and her husband, Arie De Cook; her two brothers: Clarence Van Essen and his wife, Rose; Harold Van Essen and his wife, Alice; and her brother-in-law, Homer Rempe. Ruth was a faithful and devoted sister in Jesus Christ.


Memorials in memory of Ruth may be given for the Berean Baptist Church or for the Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home