Bio: Barnes, Rev. Kenneth B. (1983)

Contact: Kathleen E. Englebretson

Email: kathy@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Barnes, Strong, Walker, Matthews

---Source: Marshfield News-Herald (24 June 1983)

At the June 1-5 session of the Wisconsin Conference of United Methodist Church at Stevens Point, Bishop Marjorie Swank Matthews announced the appointment of the Rev. Kenneth B. Barnes as pastor of United Methodist churches in Spencer and Colby.

He replaces the Rev. Charles W. Strong, who was appointed assistant pastor at Bashford United Methodist Church, Madison.

Barnes, who resides at Spencer with his wife, Janet Ann, a native of Gays Mills, and their son, Bradley G. Barnes, is a native of Fennimore. Bradley will attend Spencer High School for his senior year.

They also have a son, Bruce, who lives between Hudson and River Falls, and a daughter, Mrs. Mitch (Beth) Walker, Fall Creek.

The pastor has been preaching for 27 years and most recently served the Augusta-Pleasant Valley charge. He attended the University of Dubuque, a church-owned school near his home. He had planned to transfer to another campus for seminary, but when he realized about 20 percent of the students were Methodist and that the school program was directed to rural and small town ministries offering many nearby student appointments, he continued at Dubuque, graduating in 1958.

He served churches since January 1956, beginning at Blanchardville and Fayette as his student churches. He was ordained deacon in 1956 and elder in 1958. His second charge, the Gays Mills circuit, was located along the Kickapoo River, near his home town. He held services in four churches every Sunday.

His first experience in northern Wisconsin was the Exeland circuit with a three-point charge located north of Ladysmith. He has been in Northwest District ever since.

In 1964 the Barneses moved to Clear Lake, a circuit of three churches, and a few years later a fourth was added, making it possible to have student assistants. Pastor Strong began his preaching as Barnes' assistant.

Barnes has been chairman of the Conference Rules Committee for seven years, a Civil Air Patrol Chaplain for 25 years with the rank of major and a member of the Lions Club 24 years.