Carole Corenne Barker, 91, passed peacefully at home in Mesa, AZ, on January 27, 2025. Born in 1933 to Mary Mildred and Charles Hansen, Carole was fiery, honest, and unconditionally loving.
At 18, she was ready to take on the world. She began her career as a secretary and soon met the love of her life, Robert Barker (Bob), on a blind date. A month later, they were married and went on to build a beautiful life together, raising three wonderful children. They were married 58 years before Bob passed in 2010, and Carole continued to love him and share their love story until she was reunited with him.
Carole’s faith in the Lord was the foundation of her life. She lived with gratitude, trusting in God’s plan and sharing His love with her family. She poured her energy into her children and community she baked cookies for school events, chaperoned field trips, and was active in Scouts and Camp Fire Girls. She was endlessly proud of her children, each one unique, thoughtful, mischievous, kind, and full of life. They tested her patience, made her laugh, and filled her days with love and adventure.
But one of her greatest joys came later in life: being a grandma. Nothing made her happier than watching her grandchildren grow, sharing laughter, wisdom, and unconditional love with them.
A lover of jokes, wine, cards, Glenn Miller, and dancing, Carole embraced life to the fullest. At 84, she even went skydiving to cross it off her bucket list. Splitting her time between Arizona and Iowa, she enjoyed the best of both worlds, always thanking the Lord for His blessings.
She will be deeply missed, and her legacy of faith, adventure, and love will continue to live on in those who knew her and loved her.
Carole is preceded in death by her parents, Mary Mildred and Charles Hansen, husband, Gen. Robert Barker, beloved daughter, Dana Lee Konchalski, son-in-law, Timothy Burnett, brother, Donald Hansen, and sister, Arlene Barnes. She is survived by her children David Barker (Mary Thomas), Tom Konchalski, Mary Beth Burnett, grandchildren, James Paul Reeves (Kim), Jason Reeves (Heather), Ashley Hill (Kyle), Zane Barker (Jessica), and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens (7601 Fleur Dr., Des Moines, IA) with visitation on Wednesday, February 5, from 4-6pm, and a funeral service on Thursday, February 6, at 10:30am. Everyone is welcome to come celebrate her and her life.