Eugene R. Barber, 49, Waseca

Published 10:16 am Monday, May 13, 2013

Eugene R. “Gene” Barber, 49, of Waseca, Minn., died on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his family. Gene fought the good fight after an almost six-month lung cancer battle.

Eugene Barber

Eugene Ray was born on Dec. 6, 1963, to David L. and Nyla J. (Elam) Barber in Two Harbors, Minn. He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1982. In 2004, Gene graduated with an associate’s degree in computer programing from South Central College in Mankato, Minn. On Sept. 18, 2004, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Jean Swenson at the Hormel Nature Center in Austin, Minn. He was employed by various companies in the area including: Brown Printing of Waseca; Cybex and IT Tooling & Machine, both of Owatonna, Minn.; Doncasters Gear Products of Waterville, Minn.; and most recently Emerson Network Power of Waseca. Gene enjoyed fishing, camping, being outdoors, dirt track racing at Chateau Raceway in Lansing and Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley. He loved to invent and modify everything! Gene loved spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Becky, of Waseca; daughters, Raylee Jean Barber, Kristin (Brian) Rutt and Jessica Hayes, all of Waseca; grandchildren, Landon Rutt, Tobin Rutt, Isaah Johnson, Tatyana Johnson and Jazmyne Johnson; mother, Nyla Barber of Lansing; brothers, Wayne (Sarah) Barber of New Richland and Carl Barber of Blooming Prairie; sisters, Cindy (Doug) Ferguson of Stockton, Dona Nelson of Two Harbors, Nancy (Brian) Riggleman of Owatonna and Nikki (Paul) Becker of Byron; father-in-law, Tom Swenson of Blooming Prairie; mother-in-law, Margaret Swenson of Blooming Prairie, Minn.; brothers-in-law Mike (Jennifer) Swenson of Farmington, Minn., Adam (Sadie) Swenson of Rochester; by many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 16 at 1 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Waseca with Pastor Michael Behm, officiating. Interment will be in the State Line Cemetery, Northwood, Iowa. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Waseca, and will continue on Thursday afternoon from noon until the hour of service at the church. For online condolences, visit www.mcraithfuneralhome.com.