Glen "Sparky" Wendell Barker

Glen “Sparky” W. Barker, age 72, of Atwater, passed away Sunday morning, August 23, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atwater. Interment will be at Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, August 28, at Immanuel Lutheran Church and will continue one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Glen Wendell Barker was born on December 9, 1953, in Willmar, Minnesota, the son of Earl and Cynthia (Knott) Barker. He grew up in Atwater and graduated from Atwater High School in 1972. He attended the Willmar Vo-Tech Tool & Dye program and began working as a machinist in Minneapolis. On July 9, 1977, Sparky was united in marriage to Paula Jo Larson and they made their home in the Atwater community. He later worked with friends in the electrical trade and became a licensed electrician. He was employed for many years with Wagoner Electric in Litchfield. In 2004, Sparky co-founded with his two sons, Brandon and Tyler, Barker Electric, which they continue operating as a family business today.

Sparky was an active member of the Atwater United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher, trustee, and maintenance person. He enjoyed playing softball, hunting, fishing, gardening, and tinkering with lawn mowers, tractors, and anything else that was in the garage or shop. He truly enjoyed sharing the veggies from his garden with friends and family. He also enjoyed attending all his children and grandchildren’s activities and sporting events. Sparky was a die-hard Vikings fan and also enjoyed watching the Twins, and Gopher basketball and football, especially when accompanied by his wife and family.

He is survived by his loving wife, Paula; three children, Brandon (and Daniell) Barker, Lindsey Barker and Tyler Barker, all of Atwater; three grandchildren, Mackenzie (and Jayden), Braden (and Haley) and Connor (and Paige); and one great grandson, Waylen. Also surviving are three siblings, Karen “Sis” Willaby of Albert Lea, Shirley (and Dale) Hubert of St. Cloud and Fred (and Melinda) Barker of Grove City; two sisters-in-law, Mae Barker of Willmar and Mary Jane Barker of Grove City; and his father-in-law, Bruce Larson of Atwater, besides other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four siblings, Kenneth, Delbert, Eugene “Bumps” and Ruth; a brother-in-law, Alvin Willaby and his mother-in-law, Shirley Larson.