Bob Barnhart

Robert "Bob" Barnhart, 63, of University Park, passed away on the morning of July 28, 2025, at the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House.
Robert, son of Clarence Barnhart Jr. and Nancy (Spicer) Wells, was born in Wharton, Texas, on June 12, 1962. At the young age of two, Bob's father passed away, and Bob went to live in Leon, Iowa, with his grandmother and grandfather Spicer. While in school, Bob enjoyed many activities, including basketball, playing the trumpet in the band, participating in other musicals, and playing the piano in church. Bob graduated from Central Decatur High School in the class of 1980.
After his education, Bob, or "Barney" as friends and family occasionally called him, began his career with SCICAP. Bob helped many people during his working career to weatherize their homes. He later worked for MATURA Action Corporation in Creston, Iowa, where he continued to help people in need. This work was very important to Bob, and he found great purpose and meaning in doing it. Bob later moved to Bedford, Iowa, where he began working for Boyt Luggage, managing the production process of soft-sided luggage.
On October 21, 1995, Bob was united in marriage to Shari Hankins in Leon, Iowa. Together with his three children, they made their home in Bedford, Iowa, and later, two more children were born to this union. In 2001, the family moved to Oskaloosa to be closer to Shari's family, and Bob took a position managing the new Casey's store on South Market Street. In 2011, Bob retired from Casey's after losing his vision.
Bob enjoyed many activities throughout his life, including numerous enjoyable golf outings with his wife, Shari, coaching his children's Little League games, watching NASCAR, listening to audiobooks on tape, and attending his children's activities. He served on the University Park City Council, was an avid Hawkeye fan (Go Hawks!!), and told and read stories to his grandchildren, even if the book was occasionally upside down. Bob was a big advocate of helping people. If you could help, Bob thought, you should always do so.
Those left to cherish Bob's memory are his wife, Shari; his children and their families: Mandy (Chuck) Quick and children: Miranda and her children, Chevelle & Hudson; Jordan; Nick; Briley; & Theron; Holden (Nikki) Barnhart and children: Brody; Morgan; Madison; Sawyer; & Kinsley; Bailey (Stephanie See) Barnhart and children: Tytan; Riley; Carter; Avery; & Layton; and Boston Barnhart; and his sisters: Tracy & Robin.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Barnhart Jr. and Nancy (Spicer) Wells; his son, Bobby Barnhart; his grandparents: Ray & Edith Spicer; and Clarence & Crystal Barnhart; his in-laws, Ivan & Jan Hankins; his sister, Jolene Parker; and his brother, William.
Funeral services for Bob will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Ben Malloy officiating. Burial will be at the University Park Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with the family present from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.
In the spirit of Bob's generosity to the less fortunate, the family will decide at a later time to assist a few families with the memorial gifts. Memorial contributions can be made out to Shari Barnhart.