He was a crewman on the USS Arizona. His remains are still entombed on the battleship today. His name is inscribed on the Memorial Tabel in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Memorial Rites Held
**Handwritten: 1942
Final Tribute Paid Loren Joe Barker, First Van Buren County Man Lost in Enemy Attack.
Memorial services for Loren Joe Barker, 20-year-old Keosauquan who was reported missing by the navy department following action with the enemy, were held at the
Methodist church in Keosauqua at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
Relatives of Mr. Barker include his wife, the former Susan Elizabeth Tharp of Keosauqua to whom he was married secretly in May, 1940; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Barker of Keosauqua; a sister, Mrs. Bruce Davis of Keosauqua; three nieces; a number of uncles, aunts and cousins, and his grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Keck of Keosauqua.
The memorial services were conducted by the Rev. C.H. Orf, pastor of the church, with the assistance of W.W. Overholt and other members of the American Legion, the Williams brothers quartet, and Mrs. Esther Arthmann as organist. The 1938 class of the Keosauqua high school, of which the young man was a member, together with the high school students attended in a body.
A picture of Mr. Barker, who had been promoted to coxswain in the navy, was placed in a setting of flowers and lighted candles. Above hung the American flag, and on one side stood the American flag which had been carried to the church by the American Legion, and on the other side was the Legion standard.
Mr. Barker was the first member of the armed forces from Van Buren county to be reported missing in action after the enemy made its surprise attack preceding the declaration of war.
Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 32, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA∼Rank:COX
Loren Joseph "Joe" Barker's "cheerful and happy personality radiated far, and his companionship was sought after and cherished by young and old alike," his obituary said.
Mr. Barker was born Aug. 23, 1921, to Joseph M. Barker, a farmer, and Iva Keck Barker, a homemaker, near Keosauqua, Iowa, population 1,040. He spent his life there until he enlisted in the Navy in March 1940. He was a coxswain on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Susan Elizabeth Tharp Barker. His mother witnessed their marriage in May 1940, but otherwise their union was not made public until he died.
A memorial service was held at the Methodist church in Keosauqua on Dec. 28, 1941, with his 1938 high school graduating class attending as a group. Members of the American Legion also participated and "Taps" was played.
Sources: Van Buren County (Iowa) Genealogical Society; Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-Eye Gazette; Census; Navy muster roll; Missouri marriage license; grave marker. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
Memorial Rites Held
**Handwritten: 1942
Final Tribute Paid Loren Joe Barker, First Van Buren County Man Lost in Enemy Attack.
Memorial services for Loren Joe Barker, 20-year-old Keosauquan who was reported missing by the navy department following action with the enemy, were held at the
Methodist church in Keosauqua at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
Relatives of Mr. Barker include his wife, the former Susan Elizabeth Tharp of Keosauqua to whom he was married secretly in May, 1940; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Barker of Keosauqua; a sister, Mrs. Bruce Davis of Keosauqua; three nieces; a number of uncles, aunts and cousins, and his grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Keck of Keosauqua.
The memorial services were conducted by the Rev. C.H. Orf, pastor of the church, with the assistance of W.W. Overholt and other members of the American Legion, the Williams brothers quartet, and Mrs. Esther Arthmann as organist. The 1938 class of the Keosauqua high school, of which the young man was a member, together with the high school students attended in a body.
A picture of Mr. Barker, who had been promoted to coxswain in the navy, was placed in a setting of flowers and lighted candles. Above hung the American flag, and on one side stood the American flag which had been carried to the church by the American Legion, and on the other side was the Legion standard.
Mr. Barker was the first member of the armed forces from Van Buren county to be reported missing in action after the enemy made its surprise attack preceding the declaration of war.
Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 32, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA∼Rank:COX
Loren Joseph "Joe" Barker's "cheerful and happy personality radiated far, and his companionship was sought after and cherished by young and old alike," his obituary said.
Mr. Barker was born Aug. 23, 1921, to Joseph M. Barker, a farmer, and Iva Keck Barker, a homemaker, near Keosauqua, Iowa, population 1,040. He spent his life there until he enlisted in the Navy in March 1940. He was a coxswain on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Susan Elizabeth Tharp Barker. His mother witnessed their marriage in May 1940, but otherwise their union was not made public until he died.
A memorial service was held at the Methodist church in Keosauqua on Dec. 28, 1941, with his 1938 high school graduating class attending as a group. Members of the American Legion also participated and "Taps" was played.
Sources: Van Buren County (Iowa) Genealogical Society; Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-Eye Gazette; Census; Navy muster roll; Missouri marriage license; grave marker. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
He was a crewman on the USS Arizona. His remains are still entombed on the battleship today. His name is inscribed on the Memorial Tabel in the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Memorial Rites Held
**Handwritten: 1942
Final Tribute Paid Loren Joe Barker, First Van Buren County Man Lost in Enemy Attack.
Memorial services for Loren Joe Barker, 20-year-old Keosauquan who was reported missing by the navy department following action with the enemy, were held at the
Methodist church in Keosauqua at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
Relatives of Mr. Barker include his wife, the former Susan Elizabeth Tharp of Keosauqua to whom he was married secretly in May, 1940; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Barker of Keosauqua; a sister, Mrs. Bruce Davis of Keosauqua; three nieces; a number of uncles, aunts and cousins, and his grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Keck of Keosauqua.
The memorial services were conducted by the Rev. C.H. Orf, pastor of the church, with the assistance of W.W. Overholt and other members of the American Legion, the Williams brothers quartet, and Mrs. Esther Arthmann as organist. The 1938 class of the Keosauqua high school, of which the young man was a member, together with the high school students attended in a body.
A picture of Mr. Barker, who had been promoted to coxswain in the navy, was placed in a setting of flowers and lighted candles. Above hung the American flag, and on one side stood the American flag which had been carried to the church by the American Legion, and on the other side was the Legion standard.
Mr. Barker was the first member of the armed forces from Van Buren county to be reported missing in action after the enemy made its surprise attack preceding the declaration of war.
Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 32, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA∼Rank:COX
Loren Joseph "Joe" Barker's "cheerful and happy personality radiated far, and his companionship was sought after and cherished by young and old alike," his obituary said.
Mr. Barker was born Aug. 23, 1921, to Joseph M. Barker, a farmer, and Iva Keck Barker, a homemaker, near Keosauqua, Iowa, population 1,040. He spent his life there until he enlisted in the Navy in March 1940. He was a coxswain on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Susan Elizabeth Tharp Barker. His mother witnessed their marriage in May 1940, but otherwise their union was not made public until he died.
A memorial service was held at the Methodist church in Keosauqua on Dec. 28, 1941, with his 1938 high school graduating class attending as a group. Members of the American Legion also participated and "Taps" was played.
Sources: Van Buren County (Iowa) Genealogical Society; Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-Eye Gazette; Census; Navy muster roll; Missouri marriage license; grave marker. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
Memorial Rites Held
**Handwritten: 1942
Final Tribute Paid Loren Joe Barker, First Van Buren County Man Lost in Enemy Attack.
Memorial services for Loren Joe Barker, 20-year-old Keosauquan who was reported missing by the navy department following action with the enemy, were held at the
Methodist church in Keosauqua at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
Relatives of Mr. Barker include his wife, the former Susan Elizabeth Tharp of Keosauqua to whom he was married secretly in May, 1940; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Barker of Keosauqua; a sister, Mrs. Bruce Davis of Keosauqua; three nieces; a number of uncles, aunts and cousins, and his grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Keck of Keosauqua.
The memorial services were conducted by the Rev. C.H. Orf, pastor of the church, with the assistance of W.W. Overholt and other members of the American Legion, the Williams brothers quartet, and Mrs. Esther Arthmann as organist. The 1938 class of the Keosauqua high school, of which the young man was a member, together with the high school students attended in a body.
A picture of Mr. Barker, who had been promoted to coxswain in the navy, was placed in a setting of flowers and lighted candles. Above hung the American flag, and on one side stood the American flag which had been carried to the church by the American Legion, and on the other side was the Legion standard.
Mr. Barker was the first member of the armed forces from Van Buren county to be reported missing in action after the enemy made its surprise attack preceding the declaration of war.
Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book E, Page 32, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA∼Rank:COX
Loren Joseph "Joe" Barker's "cheerful and happy personality radiated far, and his companionship was sought after and cherished by young and old alike," his obituary said.
Mr. Barker was born Aug. 23, 1921, to Joseph M. Barker, a farmer, and Iva Keck Barker, a homemaker, near Keosauqua, Iowa, population 1,040. He spent his life there until he enlisted in the Navy in March 1940. He was a coxswain on the U.S.S. Arizona when he was killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.
He was survived by his widow, Susan Elizabeth Tharp Barker. His mother witnessed their marriage in May 1940, but otherwise their union was not made public until he died.
A memorial service was held at the Methodist church in Keosauqua on Dec. 28, 1941, with his 1938 high school graduating class attending as a group. Members of the American Legion also participated and "Taps" was played.
Sources: Van Buren County (Iowa) Genealogical Society; Burlington (Iowa) Hawk-Eye Gazette; Census; Navy muster roll; Missouri marriage license; grave marker. This profile was researched and written on behalf of the U.S.S. Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Arizona.
Contributor: USS Arizona Mall Memorial at the University of Ari (50022871)
Inscription
USN. Lost his life at Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941
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