Michael Edward Barber

Michael “Mike” Edward Barber, 73, of Cedar Falls, and formerly of Moville, IA, left our arms and was welcomed into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, while at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home. Mike was born on May 4, 1952, in Eau Claire, WI, the son of Harold Barber and Lorraine LaPoint Barber. Mike studied for a while at the University of Idaho and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire before beginning training with Bausch & Lomb to become an optician. He married Jacqueline Miller on June 9, 1973, in Stanwood, WA, and the couple was blessed with two sons. Mike owned an optical store in Clinton, IA before retirement.

Mike had a servant’s heart and loved volunteering with Servants on Wheels, Ever Ready (SOWERS) Ministry where he worked doing various projects, including maintenance in various parts of the country, volunteering with his church, and doing odd jobs around the house for his family. He enjoyed attending his children and grandchildren’s activities, was fond of telling “dad jokes,” and was a hero to his family. Mike had served as the President of the Opticians Association of Iowa, director of AWANA in Clinton, and was a member of Central Baptist Church, in Sioux City. A man of integrity who believed you should return something in better condition than you first found it, Mike loved the Lord and strove to serve his Lord in every way he could. He was a member of The Gideons International, where he was active in distributing Bibles.

Mike is survived by his wife, Jackie, of Cedar Falls; sons Chris (Christy) Barber and their children Drew and Kati, of Hudson, and Kevin (Kindra) Barber and their son Aiden of West Des Moines; sister, Jean (Steve) Becken of Houlton, WI; and many other family and friends. He was preceded by his parents, and an infant sister, Ruth Ann Barber.

Memorial services for Mike will be Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM, at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo. Memorial contributions should be directed to The Gideons International, (www.gideons.org). Online condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.