Clare Ellwood Barrett left this life on January 20, 2021, due to complications with COVID-19, and entered his eternal home in Heaven. Born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, on March 24, 1944, Clare grew up in Lakota, Iowa, with his loving parents Virgil and Maude Barrett. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Virgil and his sisters LaVaun Stevens and Lurene and her husband Ken Pruitt and he is survived by his brother Charold and his wife Suzanne and his sister-in-law Dorothy Barrett.
Clare met the love of his life, Susanna Abuhl in Des Moines, Iowa, on a blind date set up by his sister. They were married 10 weeks later and would have celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in February. The Lord blessed Clare and Susanna with four children, 13 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Clare is survived by his wife Susanna, son Jeffrey and his wife Alessandra and their children Summer and Jacob, daughter Melissa Nuckolls and her husband Tim and their children Ryan, Jordan, Dylan and Payton and Jordan’s wife Britnee and their children Beckett and Arlo Barrett, daughter Melanie Gotcher and her husband Lance and their children Sydney Clare, Brynn, Luke and Sophia and son Joshua and his wife Ginger and their children Isaac, Caleb and Charis as well as many other relatives.
Clare was a great student, athlete and musician; he graduated Salutatorian from Lakota High School, Lakota, Iowa, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and received his Masters’ Degree in Science Education after attending The University of Iowa and graduating from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois.
During his career, Clare held many positions in many different fields. He taught high school and coached in West Des Moines, Iowa, Branson, Missouri and Maricopa, Arizona. He worked for the State Department of Public Instruction, Veterans Program in Iowa, and in pharmaceutical sales with Syntex, Roche and Astra Zeneca in Springfield, Missouri.
While still living in Iowa, Clare received Jesus Christ as His personal Savior on February 16, 1970. Of all the things he experienced and accomplished in his life, he would be the first to tell you that this was the greatest event in his life. He immediately got involved serving in the churches that they would attend over the years. Clare and Susanna worked with the youth at Airport Baptist Church in Iowa. After buying and running a resort on Table Rock Lake in Missouri, they became active members at First Baptist Church of Kimberling City, Missouri, and after moving to Springfield, Missouri, Clare served in the youth ministry, college ministry, music ministry and as a deacon for many years at High Street Baptist Church. In later years, Clare and Susanna moved to Maricopa, Arizona, to retire and have been active members of Church of Celebration (COC) which was started and is pastored by their son Josh. Clare greeted many people at the door every Sunday to welcome them to church. Following the example modeled by their parents of service and generosity Jeffrey and Melissa are generously supporting ministries, Melanie is serving as a missionary in the Philippines and Josh is serving as a pastor in Arizona.
Clare Barrett was the kind of person that never knew a stranger. Within five minutes of meeting him, he probably already knew about the person he had just met and they knew a lot about him and his family. After getting to know you, Clare truly loved befriending people and made them feel at ease. He made everyone feel special. His life modeled what friendship should look like, he always shared the wisdom he had learned in life with others and all of his children would tell you they have never met a more generous person than their father.
But, perhaps the greatest thing that Clare loved to do was to tell people about Jesus. That openness to talk led to many opportunities to tell others about his Savior and Clare got to see many people come to faith in Jesus Christ. Hundreds of invitations led to people coming to church. People are in the ministry today because of his encouragement. He leaves all of us an incredible example of the impact that one life can make in this world. The response that the family has received through text, mail and social media is testimony to this and has been a source of encouragement to the entire family.
Although Clare’s passing was unexpected, we know as Christians that the grave doesn’t have the final say for us. We grieve, but not without hope – the hope of eternal life. Clare’s life verse was Job 19:25-26, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth…yet in my flesh I will see God.” Clare would want you to know and realize as he did so many years ago that all of us are born sinners and separated from a holy God because of our sin. But, God who is rich in mercy and love sent His only Son Jesus to die and pay the penalty for our sin. The Bible says that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus – believe that He died on the cross, He was buried and rose again – and turn from our sin and turn to God, that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9-13). You can call on Jesus as your Savior today and ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you from your sin and He will give you eternal life which gives us hope beyond this life.
As we celebrate the life of Clare Barrett, we want to remember him as the most godly husband and leader in the home, an incredible brother, an amazing father, most beloved Papa and uncle and a faithful friend. This is not goodbye; we will see him soon in our eternal home – our passion and prize – Heaven. We long to be there with Clare and most of all we long to see Jesus face to face. We know as Clare entered glory that he heard those words, “Well done!”. We hope that all of us would live lives worthy of the same honor.
The words of the song “In Christ Alone”, perhaps sum it up best:
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from his hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand!
Thank you Clare Barrett for all the wonderful memories, your contagious laugh, prayers, love for God’s Word and your love for each one of us. You are gone from this life but you will never be forgotten – we love you so much!
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