Jesus, the “Master Fisherman,” cast his line of divine love and wrapped his holy net of peace around Joseph Louis Barker, 76, surrounded by his close-knit family. Heavenly angels carried Joe to his eternal home on Thursday, April 10, 2025, due to complications from AML cancer.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Dyersville at the Reiff Funeral Home. Mass will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, followed by burial at St. Francis Cemetery. We will celebrate Joe’s life together with a luncheon, after the burial, in the Church basement.

He was born on June 28, 1948, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Jean (Noethe) Barker and Edward Barker, and was named after famous boxer Joe Louis. In his early years, his grandparents, Albert and Anna Noethe, embraced Joe with their loyal devotion and tender care and raised him as their own. Grandma Anna was his mentor in the Catholic faith, and Joey was her favorite. During his childhood, he made great memories spending time with his Uncle Irvin and Aunt Marlys Noethe and their children, his first cousins, Gwen (who was his best friend), Brian, Carol, Wayne, Ken, Alice, and Lee (who was his godson), who were like siblings to him.

He graduated in 1966 from Saint Francis Xavier schools in Dyersville. He proudly fathered two girls in his 20s, JoDee and Ramona—who was his favorite little girl. He started his career at Adam’s Company and then went to John Deere Dubuque as a machinist and tool & die maker. This is where he met his best friend and favorite fishing buddy, Rick Buelow. He retired from John Deere after 34 years, in 2004, at the age of 55— an accomplished major goal. This is where he learned his financial expertise by exchanging knowledge of the finance world with his coworkers, and became a master teacher of finance. He was a member of the UAW Local #94, and was pro union his whole life.

Another life goal was to take his children to Disney World, which he accomplished in 1982, followed by many more trips back with his grandchildren. Joe had many passions in life, including fishing (he was legendary on the Mississippi River and received many Iowa Master Angler awards), deer hunting, muscle cars, investing, and gambling. He knew all there was to know about all cars, which somehow genetically transferred to his grandson, Elijah, who is his mini-me. He loved to give rides in his muscle cars, including his Corvettes and Mustangs, and cruising with Mary. He had the gift of gab and always had a good story to share, and if you ever tried to escape his gift of gab, he would pull you back in by saying, “Let me tell you one more thing.” He welcomed his first grandchildren, from his younger daughter Ramona, in 1999, a set of beautiful twins, Collin and Mads. They had many great memories traveling with Joe, including fishing in Alaska and shooting guns on the dairy farm. He had a second chance at love with Mary Freiburger, whom he married on September 23, 2005, and they spent the last 20 years together cruising and traveling the world with friends and family, which he loved to organize.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Barker of Dyersville, IA; his eldest daughter, JoDee (Todd) Rundall of Bend, OR, and grandson, Elijah; a son-in-law, Jusdyn Krenz of Cedar Rapids, IA, and a grandson, Collin (Lillian) Krenz and grandchild, Mads (Kensey) Krenz; his brother-in-law, Ed Allumbaugh, his cousin, Thomas Allumbaugh; his stepchildren, Renee (Loren) Priem of Highlands Ranch, CO, and step-granddaughter Gabby Fields, Kevin (Flor) of Luxemburg, IA, and step-grandson Kyle and step-granddaughter Addie, Kristi (Ryan) of Cedar Rapids, IA, and step-granddaughter, Briana (Tyler) Ball, and step-grandson Kristopher (Elizabeth) Vandenburg, Mark (Amanda) Priebe of Guttenburg, IA, and step grandson, Brenden, and his in-laws, Agnes Cannon, Ann, Rose, Joe, Tom, Louis, and Francis Freiburger, and extended Noethe family.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, his daughter, Ramona Jean Krenz, his grandparents Albert and Anna Noethe, his father and mother-in-law, Earl and Alice Freiburger, a brother-in-law, Dave Cannon, a sister-in-law, Joyce Freiburger, a son-in-law Joshua Vandenburg, his uncle and aunts, Irvin and Marlys Noethe, Eileen Allumbaugh, and first cousins, Gwen Benn, Carol Ludovissy, and Ken Noethe.

An online video may be viewed, and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.

The family would like to thank everyone, including family, friends, and medical staff, who were there for Joe during his fight with acute myeloid leukemia cancer. In lieu of flowers, you can donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in his honor.