Stephen Barnes O'Donnell

Stephen Barnes O’Donnell died peacefully at home with his family on Dec. 16, 2022. Barnes lived a long, productive and impactful life. Except for being born in Chicago, attending high school and college on the east coast, and serving in the U.S. Navy, his life was centered in Cedar Rapids. Both his maternal and paternal families have had a Cedar Rapids presence since the 1850s. Two of Barnes’s great-grandfathers fought for Iowa in the Civil War. Barnes attended Johnson Elementary School and Franklin Junior High School before heading east for high school to the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. He then graduated with honors from Yale University in 1953 with a B.A. in Psychology. After college, Barnes served in the U.S. Navy for 3 1/2 years as a gunnery officer on a destroyer during the Korean War. In 1954, he met Judith Luden Slocum on the beach in Fort Lauderdale. They married several months later and had a long, happy wonderful marriage, for 65 years, until her death in 2020. In 1956, Barnes and Judith moved to Cedar Rapids and it became their home for the rest of their lives. They raised their family here, he ran a successful business here and he was very philanthropic. In 1933, Barnes’s grandfather, Don Barnes, bought Johnson Gas Appliance Co.. Johnson Gas had been a Cedar Rapids enterprise since 1901 and was in bankruptcy during the depression. Harry O’Donnell, Barnes’s father, left his law practice to run the company. In 1956, Barnes joined the family business and became President and CEO in 1975. He never really retired and was still employed by the company on the day he died. His two sons, Stephen and Bill, took over the company and it remains a Cedar Rapids family business today. Barnes also was a devoted Cedar Rapidian. He was involved in a broad range of civic activities. Barnes served as President of the Board of Directors of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, the Cedar Rapids Performing Arts Commission, and Linn County Mental Health Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Cedar Rapids Country Club, the Exchange Club, Mercy Hospital, the Five Season Center commission. He was elected to two terms on the Cedar Rapids Board of Education. Barnes was a member of the Board of Directors of the Guaranty Bank & Trust, Kelty Radiator Co., EvenTemp Inc., and Johnson Gas Appliance Co. He was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon, Trustee and an Elder of the church. Barnes considered his most gratifying civic accomplishment to be his leadership role in the refurbishment of the Paramount Theatre. In 1971, the Paramount had been closed for many years and was likely to be torn down. Barnes led a symphony fund drive that raised over $1,000,000 to refurbish the theatre. This resulted in the City agreeing to take over ownership of the Paramount. City ownership ensured the future of the Paramount and provided an appropriate permanent home for the Cedar Rapids Symphony which continues to this day. All of the above is very important and catalogues much of his life. However, it does not capture Barney’s spirit and the energy and enthusiasm that he brought to all of his endeavors. He had a lot of fun â€" and he was fun. A good friend to many and a positive example of good citizenship to all. Barney was a great friend to his buddies. A group of them that lunched together even opened a bar, Osgood Shepherd’s at the then-IE Tower so they could have a place to dine and occasionally pretend to bartend. Barney and Judy traveled the world, had fun parties for friends and lived a full life. Barnes and Judith had five children, Stephen Barnes O’Donnell Jr. (Beth), Julie O’Donnell Allen (Ron), Glynn O’Donnell Butterfield (Richard) and William Luden O’Donnell (Esther). Thomas Slocum O’Donnell died at birth in 1956. Barnes is also survived by 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Stephen Barnes O’Donnell, III, Samuel Glynn O’Donnell, Molly O’Donnell, Will Havertape, Grace O’Donnell, Sarah Allen, Adrienne Cohen, Michael O’Donnell Allen, Conor Jay Allen, Richard Joseph Butterfield Jr. (“Dukeâ€�), Judith Grace Butterfield and Harry John O’Donnell; and one great-grandchild, Emilia Valli-Allen; in addition to numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. Barnes was preceded in death by his wife and son, Thomas; and his parents, Glenys and Harry O’Donnell; his brother, Michael O’Donnell; and his dear cousin, Ann Wadsworth Olberg. The family is grateful to Lori Schug, Barnes’s caregiver and to Mercy Hospice, including Pam Hansen and Beth Lange. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Barnes’s memory may be sent to Orchestra Iowa, First Presbyterian Church Cedar Rapids or JDRF (1026 A Avenue NE, P.O. 3026, Cedar Rapids, IA 42406). Services will be held at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the First Presbyterian Church.