Cody Barnhart Obituary, Death – Jerdene Bruce Barnhart passed away on August 25, 2007, at the Swedish Medical Center in Engelwood, Colorado, as a result of complications brought on by injuries he sustained while working at the St. Francis Livestock Sale Barn. Jerdene had spent his entire life doing what he liked most, which was working with cattle and horses. On August 21, 1931, Jerdene Barnhart came into the world as the son of Harvey and Irene (Moore) Barnhart. On the family ranch in Hackberry Creek, which is located to the north of St. Francis, he spent his childhood.
On Nov. 7, 1954, Jerdene married Barbara Rae Clouse in Benkelman, Neb. After waiting another five months, they moved into the family ranch. Jerdene cherished human connection and had little trouble striking up conversations with strangers everywhere he went. Square dancing and roller skating helped our family create a lot of memories together throughout the years.
Every one of us felt confident that Jerdene was a genuine cowboy on the inside and out because to the influence of John Wayne movies, Johnnie Cash, and polka music. It was a source of joy for him to participate in Odd Fellows activities, and he and his wife were regulars at the First Baptist Church. Although Jerdene and Barbara relocated to St. Francis in 2001, he maintained his daily commute to the property throughout this time. He was unable to fully let go of something that had been such a significant part of his life, his ranch, as well as the few quarter horses that he had retained from the long line of quarter horses that he had raised in the past.
He took great satisfaction in the fact that all of his children shared his passion for horses. Jerdene has worked as an assistant at a number of different sale barns in the Tri-State area over the course of her career. Some of these barns include the St. Francis Livestock Commission, Imperial Auction Market, Benkelman Horse Sale, and Burlington Livestock Exchange.
His family, including his wife Barbara, his children Delbert Barnhart and wife Sharon, Doug Barnhart and wife Sandy, all of St. Francis, Debbie Blakeman and husband John of Merna, Neb., Donald Barnhart of Denver, and Daryl Barnhart and wife Yvonn of McCook, Neb., and his grandchildren Derek Barnhart and wife Stephanie, Cassidy Barnhart, Cody Barnhart, Brandi Barnhart, Bruce Barnhart, Jason Barnhart and wife Amanda, Chase Barnhart, In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his four sisters, Manota Daniels, Macalene Olson and husband Alden, Wilma Petsch and husband Jess, and Willa Scott and husband Claude; two brothers, Jim Barnhart and wife Mildred, and Maurice Barnhart and wife Janice; sisters-in-law Louise Barnhart and Elsie Mae Hardwick and husband Eldon; brother-in-law Sam Clouse and wife Karen; and a large number