Funeral services for Marlyne M. Barker, 54, of Albert Lea will be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church. The Rev. Bob Weniger will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.
Marlyne died on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family, following a courageous 19-year battle with cancer, which was inspirational to so many.
Marlyne Marie Barker was born on Nov. 24, 1954, in Sumner, Iowa, the daughter of E.J. and Ruth (Sassmann) Fink. She attended and graduated from Tripoli High School. On April 20, 1974, Marlyne was united in marriage to Garth Barker. She was employed as the food service director at the Denver Sunset Home from 1980 to 1989 when the couple moved to Albert Lea. Marlyne has been employed at Mayo Health Systems in the Home Health and Dialysis Unit. Among her greatest accomplishments was being a dialysis technician and starting the local cancer support group with friend and fellow survivor, Judy Popp-Anderson. Marlyne enjoyed floral arranging and golfing. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her children; daughter, Jenny Kenyon, husband James and their daughter, Makenzie Belle, Albert Lea; son, Sgt. Joshua Barker, wife Angie (Zoller) and their son, Auslund, Albert Lea; sisters, Terri (Glenn) Meier, Waverly, Iowa; Jer (Brent) Steere, Waverly; Mary (John) Groh, Rockwell, Iowa; Lynne (John) Rasmussen, Manchester, Iowa; brother, Dave (Deb) Fink, Denver, Iowa; mother-in-law, Adelia Belle Barker, Fredericksburg, Iowa; brothers-in-law: Dr. Gerry (Maureen) Barker and Ben Barker; numerous nieces and nephews and her deceased mother’s husband, Gayl Gitch.
Marlyne was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Garth; and father-in-law, Edwin Barker.
In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Crossroads Community Hospice or Calvary Baptist Church.