Martha Barker

Martha Ann (Mendel) Barker, 79, of Loves Park was called home Sunday, September 16, 2018. Born December 21, 1938, in the family home in Oilton, OK, the daughter and youngest of six children born to Owen W. and Blanche H. (Thornburg) Mendel. Near the time Martha was old enough to start school, the family moved to a small farm off Hwy 81 in Beloit, WI, so her father could begin a job at Fairbanks Morse Corp. She attended elementary school at Smythe School (rural one-room school near Hwy 81), then graduated from Beloit Memorial High School.

Martha was married for a time to Duane Barker and they had two daughters. As parents and married young, they moved several times and had several jobs. Although she may have stopped working for a short time when her daughters were very young, she used the skills learned from her high school business courses and other experiences to work in secretarial and office management positions in various small businesses all of her adult life. She did formally retire from the sales department of Enkel Corporation. Their daughters started school in Freeport, IL, but soon moved to 6 Oaks Mobile Home Park near the Village of Pecatonica, IL, and would remain there until both daughters graduated from college. They also joined a small local church that met in the Lincoln Park Boys Club on the west side of Rockford, now Lincolnwood Baptist Church. Even though her fulltime jobs limited her time, she served or was active in many community, school, and church activities. She made many dear friends during those years who she always spoke very highly of and expressed great gratitude for their positive influences and support in raising her daughters. As empty nesters, they would build their first house and live for a time in Shirland, IL. Martha would then move to a house near family in Loves Park, IL. That house was ‘Grandma’s house’ for most of her grandchildren’s childhood, and later ‘Gigi’s house’ to her first great-grandchild. During this time Martha attended, served, and met many new beloved friends at Forest Hills Evangelical Free Church.

Although she would never consider it home, Martha lived for a short time (the last 19 months under hospice care) at Highview in the Woodlands, Rockton, IL. That was a difficult move for her and although she would never call it home, her family is very grateful for the caring, compassionate “safe harbor” to help us care for her during a difficult time.

Survivors include her daughters, Charlotte (James) Reynolds of Loves Park and Denise (Ken) Krup of South Elgin; grandchildren, Nathan (Courtney) Reynolds of Lansing, MI, Kaitlin Reynolds of Nashville, TN, and Karissa Krup of South Elgin; great-grandchildren, Archer “Archie” Reynolds and Emery Reynolds; sister, Sue (Jack) Farina of Beloit, WI; brother, David (Eleanor) Mendel of Madison, WI; sister-in-law, Carol Barker of Shirland, IL; many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents; siblings, Warren Mendel, Marcia Joy Mendel and Mary Robinson; brothers-in-law, Paul Robinson and Charles Barker.

The family wishes to thank Alzheimer’s Association for the great resources, and the staff at Highview in the Woodlands and Northern Illinois Hospice, for their care and compassion.

Graveside service at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 4, in Eastlawn Cemetery, 2200 Milwaukee Road, Beloit, WI, with Pastor Mitch Sayler officiating. In place of a visitation, the family is hosting a gathering at Harry Moore Pavilion at Riverside Park in Beloit immediately after the service until dusk. In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, choose a local church, school, or organization of your choosing to make a donation or volunteer a day of service. Some of Martha’s would be Cru, AWANA, FHEFC, Rockford Rescue Mission and the family would add the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements by Delehanty Funeral Home, Ltd., of Loves Park, IL.