Dan Barger

(From Parker Mortuary)

Dan M. Barger, age 88, Joplin, passed away on Saturday, May 21 2016 at Mercy Hospital.

Dan was born January 20, 1928 in Westboro, Missouri, to William and Gae Macrander Barger.

Dan graduated from Horace Mann High School in Maryville, Missouri in 1947. After high school he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Science from Northwest Missouri State University in 1955. Later, he attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska; University of Missouri Kansas City; Central Florida University in Orlando, Florida, and did his master's work at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Dan married Donna Morrison on August 13, 1961 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hannibal, Missouri.

Mr. Barger taught science for forty-two years for the following school districts: Gilman City, Missouri, Palmyra, Missouri, North Kansas City, and Osceola County Schools in St. Cloud and Kissimmee, Florida. During that time he received Who's Who Among American teachers, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching in 1989, participated in the NASA Seed Experiment in Space, and other Commendations.

On November 28, 1950, Mr. Barger was drafted in the United States Army where he served in the Korean Conflict, receiving the Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal with two campaign pins, Combat Medical Badge, Far East Command Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Twenty Year Reserve Medal, St. Louis Globe Dispatch District Soldier Award for 1974, Missouri Korean War Veteran Medal, and continued with the United States Army Reserve, retiring as a Sergeant Major in 1988 with 38 years of service.

Dan was an active council member of Faith Lutheran Church in Carthage, Missouri, and was involved with the Joplin Area Retired Teachers Association, Trivent, Sunrise Optimist, The Retired Enlisted Association, and Phi Delta Kappa, and Order of the Purple Heart.

In addition to his parents, Dan was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucy Back and Betheen Frinke of Kissimmee, Florida.

Dan is survived by his wife of 55 years, Donna; two daughters, Deonne Williams (Rory)of Zephyrhills, Florida, Danna Chessher (Justice) of Dade City, Florida; two brothers, Ike Barger (Virginia) of Joplin, W.C. Barger of Kansas City, Missouri; several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be Monday, June 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in Faith Lutheran Church, Carthage with Pastor Timothy H. Buelow officiating. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. until service time. His ashes will be inurned at Oceola Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Kissimmee, Florida with full military honors at a later date.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Dan's Church, Faith Lutheran Church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.