Jay Barfels

Jay Dean Barfels, 84, of Marion, IA, previously of Bellevue, died Sunday August 16, 2020. Jay was born December 17, 1935, in rural Grundy Center to Lester and Winona (Plaehn) Barfels. Upon his graduation from Grundy Center High

School in 1953, Jay enlisted in the Navy and served honorably for three years during the Korean War. Jay graduated from the University of Dubuque, and then obtained his Masters Degree from the University of Iowa.

 

Jay’s career working as an administrator for Iowa's Department of Human Services spanned four decades. Jay lived life to the fullest, loved his family, friends, art, pottery, dining out, fishing, music, gardening, woodworking and gourmet cooking. Jay was preceded in death by his wife Patricia (Lombardi) and his grandson, Jacob Williams. He is survived by his daughters: Nancy (Paul) Garner, Jennifer Williams both of Cedar Rapids, Katie Schultz of Converse, TX and Sarah Barfels (Melanie House) of North Liberty, 6 grandchildren and his sisters Kay (Paul) Weiss of Reinbeck and Joy (Vern) Strasser of Davenport.