Mary Elaine Barnard

Mary Elaine Barnard, 88, of Ankeny and formerly of Oskaloosa and Cedar, passed away on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mary Elaine Barnard, daughter of Clyde and Mary Louise (Jamison) Osterfoss, was born June 6, 1937, in Hedrick, Iowa. Elaine attended school in Hedrick and graduated from Cedar Consolidated School with the class of 1955. While in high school, she participated in basketball, softball, band, and drama. Elaine was blessed with 61 years of marriage to Jack Barnard. They were joined in holy matrimony at the Cedar United Methodist Church on April 29, 1956.
Elaine attended William Penn College, where she graduated with her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Home Economics. She later earned her master's degree from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University).
Elaine was an educator and taught at Kirkville Elementary and Ottumwa Elementary before retiring in 1996. After her retirement, she and Jack enjoyed traveling and spending time with her grandchildren and later, building the house of her dreams in Ankeny. Elaine and Jack spent many years traveling, visiting 47 different states and numerous foreign countries, and enjoyed spending the winter season in Naples, Florida.
Elaine and Jack were part of the leadership of the Cedar United Methodist Youth Fellowship and members of the Cedar United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the BCNU Sunday School Class for adults, the Two O'Clock Women's Club, the Oskaloosa Women's Club, and the United Methodist Women. They also enjoyed assisting in many of the social events, and she was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan.
Elaine's family includes her son, Rick (Jana) Barnard of Indianola, IA, her grandchildren; Christopher (Jill) Barnard of Morton, IL, Brian (Christine) Barnard of Fenton, MO, Jaclyn (Andrew) Wetzler of Indianola, IA, seven great-grandchildren; Logan and Taylor Barnard, Jenna, Aaron and Leah Wetzler, Lauren and Daniel Barnard, a sister-in-law; Pat Dewitt of Oskaloosa, and many nieces and nephews.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jack, two brothers; Clyde DeVerne (Karen) and Warren Osterfoss and her in-laws, Ruth (Gerald) Lane, Jay (Alice) Barnard, Charles "Rex" (Doris) Barnard, Glen "Joe" (Thelma and Virgina) Barnard, Bill (Lucille) Barnard, John Sheppard, Kenny DeWitt, Bonnie (Warren) Smith, a niece Kelly Jo Osterfoss, and two nephews, Mike DeWitt and Rodney Barnard.
Funeral services for Elaine will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Central Church in Oskaloosa, with Rev. Jon Nelson and Rev. Bud Lane officiating, followed by burial in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, with the family present from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. to greet relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to the Cedar Livestock 4-H Club.