Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 60 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Donald Barnes
Donald E. Barnes died on May 17, 2017 at the age of 82. He was born in Steger, Illinois February 12, 1935, the son of Ellis and Mary Barnes. He moved to Wisconsin at the age of 12. Don graduated from New Auburn High School in 1953. He also graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls in 1957. Don was married to Gloria (Swanson) of Boyceville, Wisconsin on June 15, 1957. They had three children, Donald Jr., Brian and Lori. Don served two years in the U.S. army in Heidelberg, Germany at the airfield. Upon returning to Wisconsin, he attended the University of Eau Claire graduating in 1962. He taught 3 years in Osseo, Wisconsin before becoming the Elementary Supervisor for four years. He attended Winona State College while at Osseo receiving his Master’s Degree in 1969. He was asked to become the Elementary School Principal in McFarland, Wisconsin in 1969. He started his PhD in January of 1970 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and graduated in December of 1972. He remained in McFarland until 1995 as Elementary School Principal and taught graduate courses for several of the University of Wisconsin campuses. He also worked on many projects for the National Science Foundation and the Research and Development Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1995 he was asked to become a visiting scholar at Hyogo University in Japan for eight months. It was a very rewarding experience.
Don received many honors and awards:U.S. Army-Outstanding Achievement Award (1959), Cooperating Administrator Award WI Assoc. of Teacher Educators-1982, School awarded National Recognition for Excellence in Education (1986, Phi Delta Kappa Certificate of Recognition (1987), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Distinguished Service Award(1988), Wisconsin’s Elementary School Principal of the Year (1988), McFarland’s Citizen of the Year (1988), University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Distinguished
Service Award (1989), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Distinguished Alumni Award (1989), Visiting Scholar-Hyogo University-Japan (1995-96), Children’s Literacy Award (2008). He published many magazine articles and parts of three books. He gave many speeches and workshops in many cities in the U.S. and several foreign countries. He was asked to do an administrative evaluation of the Lutheran Diocese in Tanzania, Africa. This led to an interest in building an Elementary School in Kaisho, Tanzania. His idea was brought back to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Eau Claire where they funded the construction. Don also led the effort to resettle 34 refugees from Southeast Asia in the Madison area. Travel played an important part of Don’s retirement. He and Gloria traveled to six continents and 57 countries, many of them more than once. Living on the lake provided a great place for family and friends. Don loved the lake and the surrounding forest.
Donald is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Gloria; sister, Suzanne Causier; sons Donald Jr. (Cathie), Brian (Patti) and daughter, Lori (Joel) Shackett; five grandchildren; Zachary (Nicky) Barnes, Cortney (Brad) Lockman, Ellie Barnes (Mike Link), Samuel and Matthew Shackett; three great grandchildren, Kaylin and Kellan Link, and Hailie Lockman; two step granddaughters, Brooke (Justin) Herwig, Becca Hoel (Travis Bryan); six step great grandchildren, Kenidy Link, Austin, Josh, Maddie, Zeke and Gracelynn. Don was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mary and Ellis Barnes; brothers and sister, Baby Boy Barnes, Charles Barnes and Zeta Roach. He is also preceded by brother-n-laws; Alan Causier, Arden Pederson and Arthur Roach; nephews, Scott Pederson and Kyle Johnson.
The family would like to thank Don’s niece, Joan Rehberg for her hours of lovingcare, the staff from Heartland Hospice for making Don comfortable and making his wish of being at the lake home possible and Cheryl from Seniors Helping Seniors, Dr. Chris Roberts, Dr Rentzepis and Dr. Basu for their care.
Education was important to Don and a scholarship will be set up in his name at the McFarland Education Foundation. Other memorial can be made out to St. John’s Lutheran Church for tuition in the Tanzania or the Zeta Barnes Roach Education Foundation.
Visitation will be on Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 1-5 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home, 312 S. Stone Street, Augusta, WI. Services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1804 Highland Ave. in Eau Claire on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation starting at 10:00 a.m.
