Eugene Barber

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

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 16th at 1:00 pm 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 pm at McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Waseca, and will continue on Thursday afternoon from 12:00 Noon until the hour of service, at church.

Eugene Ray was born on December 6, 1963 to David L. and Nyla J. (Elam) Barber in Two Harbors, Minnesota. 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. On September 18, 2004 he was united in marriage to Rebecca Jean Swenson at the Hormel Nature Center in Austin, Minnesota. He was employed by various companies in the area including; Brown Printing of Waseca, Cybex and IT Tooling & Machine both of Owatonna and Doncasters Gear Products of Waterville, 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; brothers-in-law Mike (Jennifer) Swenson of Farmington, Adam (Sadie) Swenson of Rochester; by many other relatives and friends.

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

Casket bearers are: Perrin Barber, Jason Barber, Terry George, Jeff Quast, Dan Schultz and Rich "Archie" Taylor.