Lewis Alfred Bark

Notes:

Louis Alfred Bark was born March 3, 1986 in Maynard, Iowa. His parents being George Bark and Carrie Lucretia Smith. He was the youngest of four children. his father died when Louie was ten months old. In 1898, his mother and brother, John,
bought 48 acres 2 1/2 miles northeast of Maynard, Iowa. In 1903, they payed off the farm with Louis's inheritance money - Louie was seven years of age. He married Marjorie Alice McLeish on March 12, 1919 and they had thirteen children born to
them. In 1936, his mother died and Louie inherited the farm. In 1937, the barn burnt down and they rebuilt it. He was a very successful farmer. He also owned cows, pigs, horses and chickens. He made wise financial decisions and tehy survived
the depression with a minimum of discomfort. He was a very shrewd businessman and became fairly wealthy. He was frugal and lived modestly. He lost sight in one eye when one day a kernal of corn flew out of the shucker and hit him in the eye.
His relationship with his brother John was strained because Louie had inherited the farm. In 1968, a tornado destoyed everything but the house. He had over 20 buildings which were blown down and a large apple orchard was uprooted. Massive trees
lay on the ground. His children and their children came and helped them clean up, which took several days. Windows were shattered and mud covered the floors. Louie and Marjorie escaped in time to the cellar but had felt the house lift up
momentarily. Louie felt he was too old to rebuild so the farm was never rebuilt and the shock of loss stayed with him for many years. (It was burned down after Louie's death.) He became caretaker of the Twin Bridges park for a time and rented
his land to other farmers for crops and grazing. In 1982, he had over $150,000 in bank accounts and certificates. Louie loved people and loved having his family around him. He liked to play cards - mostly "500" and was a shrewd player. He was a
good judge of charactor. he didn't travel much preferring to remain n the comfort of his own home. He could be very stubborn. When the telephone company removed their "crank-operated" phone, he refused to have another one installed. This
worried his children as Louie and Marjorie were getting old, living alone and neither drove at this time. But through his children's pleas, he remained firm in his decision. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a sparkle in his blue eyes much
of the time. He was highly respected by his friends and family. Louie had a stroke on December 22, 1984 and died February 4, 1985 at the Grandview Care Center in Oelwein, Iowa, at the age of 88. He is buried in the Long Grove Cemetary, Maynard,
Iowa.

Doris Bark, wife of Louie's son Ray Max, wrote the following poem which was read at Louie's funeral service:

Your Memory Will Live

I'll never forget his smile and the

way he used to laugh,

the way he made you welcome to walk

down his garden path

surrounded by all the flowers he

loved so well and the many

"olden-days" stories he used to tell.



I remember the many times he would

turn to G'Ma and say, "Fix them a

bite before they go."

And G'Ma, before you could say "No"

would have a tasty meal prepared

just so.



We will miss you G'Pa, each in our

own way,

We won't forget how you touched our

lives and are here today to say...



Your memory will live forever and

beyond in a special corner of our

hearts.



More About LEWIS ALFRED BARK:

Cause of Death: Stroke

Lewis married Marjorie Alice McLeish on 12 Mar 1919. Marjorie (daughter of John Strawn McLeish and Jesse Taylor) was born on 9 Feb 1898 in Maynard, Iowa; died on 4 Sep 1987 in Maynard, Iowa; was buried in Long Grove Cem., Maynard, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Genevive Inez Bark was born in 1920; died in 1920.
2. Robert Rex Bark was born on 10 May 1921 in Randalia, Iowa; died on 11 Mar 1994 in Maynard, Iowa.
3. Betty Jean Bark was born on 3 May 1922 in Randalia, Iowa; died in 1986 in Manchester, Iowa.
4. Dorothy Mae Bark was born on 15 May 1923 in Randalia, Iowa; died on 18 Jan 1980 in Winthrop, Iowa.
5. Ruth Arlene Bark was born on 12 Sep 1925 in Randalia, Iowa; died on 9 Sep 1983 in Waterloo, Iowa.
6. Living
7. Ray Max Bark was born on 4 Mar 1929 in Randalia, Iowa; died on 4 Aug 1997 in LaPorte City, Iowa.
8. Living
9. Living
10. Living
11. Living
12. Living
13. Living

George married Carrie Smith. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]