"Ruth and family, you have my deepest sympathy and are in my thoughts and prayers. May God grant you a special peace at this time. I'm sorry I can't be with you, but I'm in Florida at Mike and Julie's. Marie Kemna 01/27/09"
In loving memory of
Max E. Barrows
January 25, 2009
Interment - St. John's Catholic Cemetery - Bancroft
Max E. Barrows was born on November 30, 1921, at Austin, Minnesota, to Basil and Bertha Faye (Tanner) Barrows. Max was schooled in Austin then worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company there. Though Max was not in the military, during World War II, he drove high ranking military people for the Manhatten Project in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. He later moved to Brainerd, Minnesota where he worked for many years at a paper mill. He moved to the Titonka area, working at Winnebago in Forest City, when he met and married Ruth Arndorfer Menke on June 29, 1978, in South Dakota. The couple lived on the Menke family farm, northeast of Bancroft, all their married life.
Max was an avid Minnesota Vikings Fan, enjoyed dancing, golf, horses, watching westerns on TV, lawn care, and reading (especially about trains). Max was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Bancroft.
Max became a resident of the Valley Vue Care Center in Armstrong on January 25, 2009, and died there on Sunday night, January 25, 2009, at the age of 87.
Survivors include his wife Ruth of Bancroft, his children, Steve of Brainerd, Minnesota, Terry of Crystal, Minnesota, Greg of Evergreen, Colorado, and Renee Gavin and husband Mark of Highland Park, Minnesota. Also surviving are Ruth's eight children, Daniel of Ft. Dodge, Iowa; Joan Phillips and husband Dennis of Evansdale, Iowa; Judy Meyer and husband Robert of Kirkland, Washington; Darlene Watkins and husband Blaine of Bloomington, Minnesota; Nancy Hutzell of Topeka, Kansas; Harriett Hutchinson and special friend, Pat Robbins of Tempe, Arizona; and Mike and Steve of Bancroft, Iowa, as well as 22 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and Max's first wife Helen Gavin of Little Falls, Minnesota. Max was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doris Wilson, brothers Donald and Marv, and grandson Tom, and son-in-law Ron Hutzell.
Tributes
"Please find comfort in your many memories. God bless you during this time of loss."
"We have fond memories of Mom and Max together, especially when they visited our family in the Seattle area. He was the only grandfather our children knew and we will miss him. - Bob and Judy Meyer"
"So sorry to read of Max's death - please know of my love and sympathy to you, Ruth, and to all your family members. I know what a special person Max is and he will be missed by all of you. May God bless your sweet memories and bring comfort to your hurting hearts! Lovingly sent from South Dakota - your friend Carol "