Services
Obituary
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Immanuel Reformed Church in Belmond. Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luicks Lane S. in Belmond.
Mabel, the daughter of Otto and Hattie Klinge, was born Sept. 7, 1925, on the family farm near Duncan, Iowa where she grew up. She was united in marriage to Benjamin Barkema on Feb. 27, 1946. Mabel was a dedicated farm wife. She truly held dear all the activities that surrounded the farming operation. She especially enjoyed baking and cooking for the corn shellers, hay bailers, and bean walkers. At her house, activities were scheduled around meals; a hot breakfast with her delectable homemade cinnamon rolls, morning coffee with a cold meat sandwich, lunch with meat, potatoes and all the trimmings including homemade pie (her crust was so flakey, it melted in your mouth). Afternoon coffee would be cookies or brownies, supper might be ring bologna with fried potatoes, and always a snack before bed which often included a brownie with ice cream. She also cherished all the family gatherings she and Ben hosted, like New Year’s Eve with Specken Dicken followed by an intense game of cards – everyone brought their quarters.
Her baking followed her to Belle Haven Assisted Living where her signature became almond bark peanut butter clusters. She welcomed every new apartment person and spread cheer to those suffering a loss by taking a plateful to them hidden in the pocket of her walker as she walked the hall. The great grandchildren never went hungry at Grandma Mabel’s and they always looked forward to her goodies. She so enjoyed the activities at Belle Haven. Bingo was her favorite, but she loved the music programs as well.
Though Mabel did all kinds of sewing and crafts in her day, she was most proud of her hardanger embroidery projects. She spent many late nights under her sewing light completing a doily for a grandchild, a special project for the church bizarre, or a cross bookmark to brighten a friend’s day.
God was in Mabel’s heart. Her Sunday school and Bible school students were very dear to her. She truly cherished her many years of teaching at Immanuel. She was involved in many other church activities as well – serving on a variety of the Ladies Guild committees. As a family we could be found at Immanuel at least five days a week. She taught us the importance of loving our Lord and giving back to the Lord in any way that we could for all the blessings he had given us. Her love for her Lord put a smile on her face every day even when it was a rough day.
Mabel spent many hours enjoying her grandchildren and all they were involved in. Mabel and Ben attended many cattle shows. Mabel took pictures of all of them. They often parked their lawn chairs at the Bronco ballgames. She felt she was blessed when her great–grandchildren came along. She loved the stories we would share with her. Even in the few days before her passing, when she was weary, she commented on how good it was to see all of them.
Mabel is survived by her daughters, Nancy (Mick) Gabrielson of Belmond, and Cindy (Pete) Hunter, of Clarion; seven grandchildren: Derek Barkema of Belmond, Holly (Tony) Andela of Columbus, Georgia, Robyn (Ryan) Paulsen of Milford, Iowa, Laura (Phil) Burk of Holstein, Iowa, Abby (Andy) Young of Belmond, Iowa, Sara Hunter of Ames, Iowa and Ashley (Jess) Recknor of Clarion, Iowa; 11 great-grandchildren: Emily, Stuart and Eloise Andela; Brody, Griffin, and Blaze Paulsen; Kyle, Drew, and Benjamin Burk; London and Cash Young. She was preceded in death by her parents Hattie and Otto Klinge, her husband Benjamin Barkema, son Dean, her sister Dorothy and brother-in-law Dick Legge and four brothers: Ben, Elmer, John, and Paul Klinge; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lambert Barkema, Hauko and Betty Barkema, Harry and Martha Gealow, Tena and Ben Suntken, Arnold and Alice Barkema, Dick Dorenkamp, Mildred Suntken, Eugene Guth and Catherine Barkema.