Christopher Barrickman

Chris Barrickman, a young man and friend who truly enjoyed hiking and spending time with his cats, passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.  He spent his final weeks at University of Iowa Hospital as a result of complications of liver disease.  He was 38.  Chris was awake and talking and laughing with friends at the end.  And thank goodness for that.

Chris was born on June 25, 1979, in Knoxville, Iowa to Bobby and Elizabeth Barrickman.  He grew up in central Iowa and graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1997.  Chris completed coursework at the University of Iowa and in recent years re-enrolled into an online program.  He spent a good number of years working for Hy-Vee in Coralville.  Chris eventually moved into the field of property and casualty insurance and worked for GEICO for over nine years beginning in 2007. 

He was preceded in death by his parents.  Chris is survived by a number of family members, close friends, colleagues, and his two cats—Winslow and Firefly.  He considered them one of the most important parts of his world and his closest confidants.

Chris loved reading, hiking, and music.  He’d even gone skydiving recently.  Chris possessed a natural curiosity and would engage others in their interests.  He loved to learn and laugh and listen.

A private person with most people he encountered, Chris focused instead on developing quality relationships with those he let into his world.  He was kind and had a handsome smile, and he left before any of us were ready.  Chris made it clear in his final days, that no one should face any hardship as a result of his passing.

Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 1:00PM on Monday, October 16, 2017, at Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton, Iowa.  Following the funeral, we will hold a brief graveside service at Newton Union Cemetery.

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