Geraldine "Gerri" P. Bark's Obituary
Geraldine “Gerri” P. Bark, 93, of Camanche, passed away Saturday April 11, 2026 surrounded by her loving family.
Geraldine Pearl Edens was born on December 6, 1932 in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Ruby (Webber) Edens. Geraldine was born to two loving parents who both came from a grocery store background, so it was only natural that her parents ran a neighborhood grocery store on Camanche Avenue in Clinton. At the age of four she was prone to falling and they discovered she had contracted the polio virus. She would tell of being quarantined at her Aunt and Uncle Webber’s house during her recovery and that her mother and grandmother would massage her legs on a daily basis to minimize the paralysis to her legs. After her recovery, she says she was spoiled by being doted on by all the relatives and found she could win their favor by flashing her ever present smile.
Geraldine was an only child for her first eight years until her parents were blessed with her brother, Bob, and then in quick succession three more siblings, Ruth Ann, Dick, and Sharon. Geraldine became interested in baton twirling after her mother sewed her a baton twirling outfit for Halloween. She practiced baton and gymnastics at Turner Gymnastics where her grandfather was an instructor. She was honored to be the head majorette for the Clinton High School band. There are many old pictures of her leading the band down 5th Avenue. During high school Geraldine was a cheerleader and was proud to be crowned queen of the 1949 Clinton Mardi Gras parade.
Geraldine met the love of her life at a Turner Dance in the eighth grade. During one dance where the rules were to change partners on que, young James Bark refused to change partners and danced the entire dance (and the rest of the night) with Geraldine. Their love for each other grew from that night. When Jim graduated from high school and joined the Navy, Geraldine waited patiently for him to return by working as a secretary at the Rendering Works during the day and then helping out at her parent’s grocery store in the evenings. Upon his return, they were married on June 7, 1953. To this union they were blessed with five great children.
Geraldine was a family first person. She was the glue that held the family together. Not only did she have supper on the table each night, she and Jim ran several businesses all while raising a growing family. In 1967 they bought their first apartment house and through the years they rented and renovated twenty one units all in the Clinton area. From 1971-1994 Geraldine worked as a realtor and sold real estate for Realty First. In Camanche, Jim and Geraldine operated Bark’s Confectionary where they sold their famous “Bark Burgers”. The family loved living in the country just outside of town where they boarded horses and took in stray dogs and cats and had neighborhood baseball games in the field.
After retiring, Jim and Geraldine loved to travel and to attend the many sporting events their children and grandchildren participated in. If they could not be found they would usually use the excuse that they went to Menard’s (code name for their many trips to the casino). At the young age of 77, Gerri won a motorcycle which she cashed in after a few leather jacket pictures.
Geraldine was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Camanche, the Eastern Star, Women of the Moose, and the Camanche PTA. For many years she served as an election official and was a staunch Democrat. Mostly she was a good wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Geraldine woke up happy everyday and loved to spend time with family and friends. She loved to write poetry and has left behind many poems for the family to cherish.
Gerri is survived by her children: Daniel (Dona) Bark of Cordova, IL., Steve (Tonia) Bark of Camanche, Kristi Naftzger of Clinton, Karlee (Gary) Low of Camanche, and son-in-law Jeff Everhart of DeWitt, fourteen grandchildren, thirty one great grandchildren, and a sister, Ruth Ann McGrogan of Camanche. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, her parents, daughter, Kelly, granddaughter, Brittney, great-granddaughter, Scarlet Jo, son-in-law, Jeff Naftzger, a sister, Sharon, and two brothers, Richard and Robert.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 14 from 4:00 until 7:00 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Camanche. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 15, at 10:30am at the church with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Camanche. Geraldine’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Brandon Webb, James Bark, Joseph Webb, Shane Bark, Kyle Low, Blake Bark, and Jesse Everhart. The Snell-Zornig Funeral Home is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers the family asks memorials be made out to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or to the family for various other organizations of Geraldine’s choosing.
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