Kenneth Carl Barnes

Kenneth Carl Barnes passed away peacefully at his beloved farm on March 8, 2026, surrounded by his wife Judy, his daughters and sons-in-law, and his niece Sarah as he moved on to new adventures.

Ken was born on August 15, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois, to William and Dorothy Barnes. When he was a young boy, the family moved to a farm near Decatur, Michigan, where his lifelong love of the outdoors and farming took root. His father instilled in him a passion for flying, leading Ken to earn recreational pilot licenses for both single-engine planes and helicopters, and also introduced him to the mechanical trades. He became a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.

Ken joined the National Guard while in high school and, after graduating from Decatur High School in 1957, attended college where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Judith Rector. They married in 1961. He then served four years in the Air Force, primarily stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. After his discharge, he settled in Paw Paw, Michigan, and began working in the HVAC trades while continuing his military service in the Air National Guard in Battle Creek for a total of more than 26 years. He was also a member of the American Legion in Decatur.

Ken and Judy raised four children: Robert of Palatine, Illinois, Susan (David) Crouse of Paw Paw, Charles (Karen) of Galesburg, and Kathleen (Craig) Northrup of Midland. He was blessed with grandchildren Brian (Chelsea) and Abby (Victor) Crouse, David Barnes, and Deanna Barnes, as well as great-grandchildren Ramsey, Avery, Roman, and Poppy. His family also included step-grandchild Taylor Northrup and her children Kolt and Kova. Education remained important to Ken throughout his life, and he and Judy established trusts to support the future education of all six great-grandchildren.

After raising their children, Ken and Judy realized a longtime dream by purchasing a 100-acre farm, which they transformed into a natural haven where friends and family gathered often. Ken took special joy in mentoring young people who worked on the farm, offering hands-on lessons in mechanical engineering, residential construction, and creative problem-solving. Many cherished stories remain from those who lived and worked there, drawn to the farm’s beauty and its peaceful fishing lake. In recent years, he and Judy deeply valued the dedicated help and friendship of Liam and Karley Marshall. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and siblings William (Carol) of Paw Paw, Michael (Vicki) of Spring Lake, and Karen (Ralph) of Paw Paw. He is survived by his sister Nancy (Barry) Davis of Alberta, Canada.