BOONE, Iowa—Barry Wayne Lucas of Boone, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Aug 8, 2024. Barry was born on December 26, 1954, in Muscatine, Iowa, to Clyde William and Haroldyne Mae (Troxel) Lucas. The oldest of three, he led his siblings on many adventures along and around the Mississippi River, sometimes narrowly dodging trouble. He attended Muscatine schools and graduated from Muscatine High School in 1973. Barry also received AS and AA degrees from Muscatine Community College and later received his Licensed Practical Nursing degree from DMACC.
Barry dabbled in many jobs throughout his life, but his true passion was in caring for those around him. He was a long-term care nurse serving in many nursing homes in Boone and Story Counties for 21 years and ended his career with pediatric home care. He always went out of his way to ensure that both his family and patients felt safe, comfortable, and entertained by his dry wit and unique brand of humor. Barry could make anyone laugh within a few moments of meeting him, and he used that gift to spread joy and laughter wherever he went.
Barry met the love of his life in 1979, on the stage at MCC, when he heard her singing music that she composed herself for an upcoming production. He married Jeanne Marie Rossmiller on June 25, 1983, and he considered it the greatest accomplishment of his life. Barry and Jeanne lived in Iowa City, Carroll, and then settled in Boone, Iowa, in 1987. Their son, Benjamin Thomas, was born December 1, 1989. Barry was a great father, sharing his passions with Ben, including all things Sci-Fi, computers, board games, creative writing, creating and wearing full authentic cowboy or medieval costumes, Renaissance Faires, and target shooting. He was a voracious reader, fiction enthusiast, animal whisperer, musician (especially the harmonica), artist, motorcyclist, and bicyclist.
Barry was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Bob and Betty Rossmiller; brothers-in-law, Tom, Pat, and Ken Rossmiller. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jeanne Lucas of Boone; son, Ben and his wife Katie Anthony of Ankeny, Iowa; a sister, Beth Irwin (Virgil) of Illinois City, Illinois; a brother, Glen Lucas of Muscatine; and Jeanne’s siblings, Tim (Jean), Dan (Diana), Sue (Charles) Murrow, Sharon McIntyre, Karen Newlon, all of Davenport, Iowa, Mike (Marta) of Las Vegas Nevada, Marianne (Tim) Kelso, of Woodstock Georgia; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; many friends; and his beloved dogs, Butterscotch and Sunny.
Services include a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, August 12, 2024, at the Church of the Sacred Heart, 915 12th Street, Boone. A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at the church. The service will be livestreamed and a link will be available under the Events Section of Barry’s obituary on the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel website. An additional Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Muscatine. Memorials may be made to the family or to the Boone County Humane Society, www.bahs.us/donate/
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Barry’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
Barry Lucas, 69, Boone, Iowa
