Wendell "Barney" Woodsmall

Wendell "Barney" Woodsmall, 89 of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Thursday, February 20, 2014 at the Sunnybrook Assisted Living complex in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Monday, February 24th at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 25th at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Chapel with Mr. H. Wayne Nelson and Dr. Larry Pickard officiating. Interment will be in the Forest Home Cemetery with full military rites provided by the Henry County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Hope Haven or Hope Haven Flexible Services. On line condolences may be sent to www.olsonpowell.com Born October 25, 1924, in New London, IA, Wendell Wayne was the son of Clarence James and Florence Avis (Trueblood) Woodsmall. He received his education in Henry County Schools. On June 9, 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He was honorably discharged from the service on February 25, 1946, with the rank of Coxswain. On June 20, 1948, he was united in marriage to Alice Elnora Johnson in Mt. Pleasant. The couple continued to live in Mt. Pleasant for most of their 65 years of marriage. To this union, a son, Glen Dean was born. As a special needs child, Barney and Alice devoted their lives to Glen as he quickly became the center of their hearts. They both worked to establish some of the first educational programs to provide special education schools for the developmentally disabled. Barney was initially employed by the Mt. Pleasant Telephone Company. He then took a position in St. Louis, MO, in order to provide educational opportunities for his son Glen. He returned to Mt. Pleasant and eventually went on to work as a lineman, foreman and line superintendent at the Southeast Iowa Electric Cooperative (now known as Access Energy) for 29 years, retiring in 1985. Barney was a race car enthusiast, accordion player, and spent many hours collecting and refurbishing antiques. He also loved riding his motorcycle and boating on the river. He was an accomplished "colorist" of black and white photos and colorized many family photos. Survivors include sisters-in-law, Helen Clawson of Burlington, IA, Hazel Weaver and Donna Conaway of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Ruth Klopfenstein of Winfield, IA; and a brother-in-law, Ralph Mathews of Mt. Pleasant, IA. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Barney was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Alice; a son, Glen Dean Woodsmall; two sisters, Betty Mathews and Reamona Pickard; and by a brother, Carl Woodsmall.