Lewis Alfred Bark

• Name	Lewis Alfred Bark
  Gender	Male
  Buried	Long Grove Cem., Maynard, IA
  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
  Person ID	I14498	Windemuth Descendents
  Last Modified	7 Jun 1998

  
  

  Father	George Bark
  Mother	Carrie Smith
  Family ID	F10766	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Marjorie Alice McLeish,   b. 9 Feb 1898, Maynard, Iowa ,   d. 4 Sep 1987, Maynard, Iowa  (Age 89 years)
  Married	12 Mar 1919
  Children	1. Genevive Inez Bark,   b. 1920,   d. 1920  (Age 0 years)   2. Robert Rex Bark,   b. 10 May 1921, Randalia, Iowa ,   d. 11 Mar 1994, Maynard, Iowa  (Age 72 years)   3. Betty Jean Bark,   b. 3 May 1922, Randalia, Iowa ,   d. 1986, Manchester, Iowa  (Age 63 years)   4. Dorothy Mae Bark,   b. 15 May 1923, Randalia, Iowa ,   d. 18 Jan 1980, Winthrop, Iowa  (Age 56 years)   5. Ruth Arlene Bark,   b. 12 Sep 1925, Randalia, Iowa ,   d. 9 Sep 1983, Waterloo, Iowa  (Age 57 years)   6. Living   7. Ray Max Bark,   b. 4 Mar 1929, Randalia, Iowa ,   d. 4 Aug 1997, LaPorte City, Iowa  (Age 68 years)   8. Living   9. Living   10. Living   11. Living   12. Living   13. Living
  Family ID	F10364	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart