Barry Minear

Barry Minear, 82, died on August 2, 2010 of cancer at Kavanagh on 56th Street in Des Moines.

Barry was born in Maxwell, Iowa on March 6, 1928 to Glen and Alice (Hatfield) Minear. He graduated from Maxwell High School in 1946 and served in the US Army Air Corp from 1946-1949 where he played in the Army-Air Force Band and achieved the rank of Corporal.

He attended and graduated from the University Of Iowa College Of Law and in 1954, earned the highest score in the state on the Iowa State Bar Exam and practiced law in Des Moines and Windsor Heights for over 36 years. As a lawyer, he was a skilled advocate and a compassionate counselor.

Barry lived in Des Moines for 55 years. He was a talented writer, an accomplished photographer, and camera collector. He taught photography to many of his grandchildren with cameras he gave to them. Barry was an avid golfer and missed golfing opportunities only in the most inclement weather. He was a wonderful cook, having learned Iowa country cooking from his mother, and was famous for his square pies. He loved traveling and toured most of America, stopping at every roadside historical marker along the way. Barry was a proud Iowan and never considered living anywhere else.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marlene; brother, Max (Shirley) Minear of Orange City, FL; and children: Marcia (Roger Alexander) Minear of Ames, IA, Melanie Minear-Lazar (Arnie Lazar) of Maitland, FL, Michael (Mary) Minear of Finksburg, MD, Maureen (John) Gamble of West Des Moines, and Renee (David) Johnston of Stuart.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Meagan, Taylor, Alana, and Nicholas Gamble of West Des Moines, Jeremy (Jennifer) Kelly of Johnston, and Josh Sacco of Austin TX, Mollie Minear of Durham, NC, Adam Lazar of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Kate Lazar of Tampa, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Alice Minear; his step-mother Vada Minear; and granddaughter, Dana Lazar.

No services are planned.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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