Donald "Don" Henry Barnes

Don Barnes, age 99, of Austin, Minnesota, went home to heaven on February 4, 2026, at St. Mark’s Living.

Donald Henry Barnes was born January 31, 1927, to Vivian and Grace (Mahachek) Barnes in Chicago, Illinois and in 1931 the family relocated to an Austin-area farm. Don attended London Grade School, Woodbury Country School, and Austin High School. After two years at Austin Junior College, Don earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951 in Farm Operation from Iowa State University. He then returned to the family farm where he worked with his father until being drafted into the Army later that year. Don served in administrative support near Seoul during the Korean Conflict and afterwards was in the Army Reserves for six years.

On April 2, 1968, he married F. Louise Bateman at Pleasant Home Church in Edson, KS. They enjoyed a 57-year marriage that was blessed with two children, Amy and Brian.

After Don’s military service, he continued farming near London, operating a 6300-bird egg laying field study for Babcock Producers. From 1981 to 1997, Don served Mower County as its Agricultural Inspector. He served the Boy Scouts for 55+ years as leader, director and commissioner. He was a director for the Woodbury Cemetery Association and for the Hormel Historic Home, a member of the Noon Kiwanis Club, and the Mower County Horticulture Society, and a volunteer at the AARP Tax Aide office. Don faithfully supported the Red Cross blood drive, donating 23 gallons throughout his life.

In retirement, Don and Louise made many bus trips across the country as well as cruises to Alaska and the Panama Canal. He enjoyed reading the newspaper, doing crossword puzzles, and working in the yard and garden. Don was able to create a solution to most problems with things he had on hand that he could “rig up”.

Don gave his life to Jesus Christ as a youth and served Him faithfully through the years as an elder, deacon, Sunday School teacher, and missions committee member. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Louise, just five weeks prior; his brother, Gordon, and sister-in-law, Marie.

Don is survived by his daughter, Amy (Dan) Rector, Rochester, MN and son, Brian (Kathy) Barnes, Woodstock, IL; grandchildren Emma and Adam Rector, and Nathan, Hannah, and Lydia Barnes; a cousin; and nephews and nieces.

Memorial donations can be made online to the Kiwanis Possibility Project or through the family. No flowers/plants, please. https://www.kiwanis.org/who-we-are/ways-to-give/donation-form/

A memorial service for Don will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Grace Baptist Church, Austin, Minnesota. The visitation will take place from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin, Minnesota, and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Don donated his body to Mayo Clinic Medical Science Research. There will be no interment. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements. 

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Mark's Living and St. Croix Hospice for their loving care for Don during their time with him.

Over the 21 months that Don was at St. Mark's for rehab, assisted living, and then skilled nursing, the staff always took such good care of him. He made many good friends during his time there. All the staff was so good to him. Special thanks go to Nicole, Sam, Haley, and Felicia for being such very extra special friends to him.

Over the past year that Don was under the care of St. Croix Hospice for pain management and then end of life, the team was very supportive of Don and the family. Thanks to Lindsay, Denette, Stacy, and Katie for their help throughout the year and especially the last week of his life.