Arlean Mary Barnick, 78, of Wells, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, at the Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells. The Rev. Meg Sander will officiate. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Wells.
Arlean was born April 10, 1931, in Clark Township the daughter of Albert and Margaret (Wenthold) Niebuhr. On Nov. 6, 1952, she married Gene Barnick in Wells. She worked at St. Casimir School as a dietary aide, and for 35 years she worked as a dietary aide for Parkview Care Center. Arlean baked birthday cakes for her family. She enjoyed cooking and baking, and made it look effortless. She also enjoyed having coffee, playing cards and visiting with her friends, along with watching Wheel of Fortune. Arlean was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Arlean is survived by two sons: Bryan (dear friend Pam) Barnick and Scott (wife Marilyn) Barnick, all of Wells; grandchildren: Chad (dear friend Stacy) Barnick, Ronald (wife Sarah) Barnick, and Breann Barnick; one great-grandson, Jayden Barnick; special “daughter,” niece, Lynn (husband Mark) Fendrich of Wells. She is also survived by sisters: Helen Grunzke and twin sister Ardean Schultz of Wells; sisters-in-law: Alice Niebuhr of Waseca, Donna Steinhauer of Wells, Mary (husband Les) Coy of Elmore, Bessy Barnick of Wells, and Katherine Barnick of Albert Lea; brothers-in-law: Harold (and wife Dorothy) Barnick of Lake Crystal and Merlyn Thisius of Albert Lea; many nieces, nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: Harvey (Helga) Niebuhr and Melvin Niebuhr Richard (Carmen) Barnick; brothers-in-law: Bob Barnick, Henry Barnick, Ed (Janice) Schieck, Donald Grunzke, and Leo Schultz; sister-in-law, Lois Thisius; and her husband, Gene, in December of 2009.