Claude Dean Barber

Funeral services for Claude "Dean" Barber will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Darrel Wissmann officiating. Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska following the services with military honors provided by the Bertrand American Legion in conjunction with the U.S. Army National Guard Military Honors Team.

Claude "Dean" Barber, 80 years of age, of Bertrand, passed away on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at his home in Bertrand. He was born June 26, 1931 in Sulphur Rock, Arkansas to Floyd and Edith (Henderson) Barber. Dean was inducted into the United States Army on November 1, 1949 and served his country during the Korean War until his honorable discharge on October 20, 1951.

Dean was employed at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas from November 9, 1951 until his retirement on November 30, 1992. On January 20, 1977, Dean was united in marriage to Dorothy Keyser. The couple made their home in Wichita, Kansas until moving to Bertrand in August of 1994.

For enjoyment Dean loved playing golf with Carl Wittfoth and Paul Lavene, playing cribbage or cards with friends or family, fishing, gardening, watching golf and Nebraska football. Dean was a member of the Haysville, Kansas Masonic Lodge from 1961 until his death.

Dean was preceded in death by his mother, Edith and father, Floyd; fathers-in-law: Maurice Keyser and John Pinner; daughter, Jennie Barber; step-son, Ricky Alexander; three brothers: Lincoln Barber and his wife, Jerry, Bob Barber and his wife, Betty, W.D. Barber and his wife, Phyllis; two sisters: Peggy Barber and Rowena Boulthouse; three sisters-in-law: Helen Barber, Betty Morris and Norma Keyser; one granddaughter, Devon; three nephews: Scott Keyser, Jeff Bradley and Jerry Donaly; and one niece, Kathy Barber.

Dean leaves to mourn his passing; his wife, Dorothy of Bertrand; three daughters: Deanna Salas and her husband, Ernie of Derby, Kansas, Angela Winslow and her husband, Marty of Olathe, Kansas, Linda Chambers of Wichita, Kansas; step-children, David Alexander and his wife, Sherry of Lake Lotta Wana, Missouri, Vicki Bernstrauch and her husband, Mike of Holdrege, Rhonda Heasty and special friend, Phil of Wichita; mother-in-law, Helen Pinner of Holdrege; nine grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; six great- grandchildren, eight step great-grandchildren; one brother, Finis "Junior" Barber of Wichita; four brothers-in-law: Jerry Keyser of Wichita, Mike Keyser of Wichita, Tom Keyser and his wife, Jennifer of Fairbury, Nebraska, Craig Keyser of Council Bluffs, Iowa; four sisters-in-law: Marjorie Hansen and her husband, Wayne of Staplehurst, Nebraska, JoAnn Wagner and her husband, Wiley of Barnard, Missouri, Patty Sisneros and her husband, Rudy of Frederick, Colorado, Shirley Bradley and her husband, Harold of Holdrege and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established and kindly suggested to the Bertrand Rescue Unit.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.