Rev. Kenneth ‘Ken’ Earl Barnhart | 73 | Jerseyville

By Editor | May 22, 2025 |

Rev. Kenneth “Ken” Earl Barnhart, 73, of Jerseyville, passed away at his home (The Haven) on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 due to complications from Type 1 diabetes. He was born to Homer and Lina “Aldine” (Woody) Barnhart on Oct. 19, 1951 in Tuscumbia, MO. He married Jennifer Seaward on March 2, 1982.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother. He is survived by his sisters, Charnell Meisel, Jefferson City, MO and Marilyn (Chet) Zuck, Tuscumbia, MO; brother, Stanley (Cathy) Barnhart, Quincy, IL; and sister, Roxanna (David) Duncan, Marshfield, MO. Ken grew up in the High Point, MO area.
A 1969 graduate of Eldon High School, Eldon, MO, his further education included a B.A. in Social Work, a Masters in Regional and Community Affairs both from the University of Missouri, a Masters of Divinity, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO, studies on a Ph.D. at Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY, and hospital chaplain residency at Meriter Hospital, Madison, WI. His work career included co-authoring and subsequent development of the Utilicare Program for the state of Missouri. His ministry service included developing ministries at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, on-call chaplain at Meriter Hospital, and he served congregations in Portage, WI, Junction City, KS, Jerseyville, IL, and Hartford, IL. He was ordained on April 11, 1991 to the pastor and chaplain ministries.
He enjoyed serving his Lord and Savior and teaching Scripture, Jennifer, his wife of 43 years, the St. Louis Cardinals baseball, raising Scottish Terriers, writing about life at The Haven on Facebook, working on numerous projects around The Haven, and conversations with family and friends. He was a member at Dow Southern Baptist Church where he led Discipleship groups and taught occasional short-term, topical Bible classes.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Dow Southern Baptist Church, in Dow, IL on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11 a.m. Pastor David Brown will officiate. A private interment at Pendleton Cemetery in Van Cleve, MO will be held at a later date.