Kenneth Barnicle

Kenneth A. "Col. Ken" Barnicle , 87, of Jackson, formerly of Ellisville, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 19, 1919, in St. Louis, son of John A. and Isolene Taff Barnicle. He and Marian Hulsey were married March 23, 1940, in Keysville, Mo. They had been married 66 years when she passed away April 11, 2006.

Ken was a U.S. Army veteran. He received an early honorable discharge to return to work as a locomotive engineer. He worked 30 years for Frisco Railroad, retiring in 1975.

The Barnicles were longtime residents of Ellisville, where Ken was active in the community and served as mayor from 1968 to 1970. An auctioneer of 50 years, he owned and operated the former Barnicle Auction Service and a farm machinery sales business.

In 1982, the couple moved to Jackson. He concluded his auctioneering career in 1985. Ken was inducted into the National Auctioneers Hall of Fame (1979), Missouri Auctioneers Hall of Fame (1990), and was a former president of the Missouri Auctioneers Association. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson and Masonic Lodge in Steelville, Mo.

Loving survivors include two sons, Len (Ellynn) Barnicle of Millersville, Mike (Margery) Barnicle of Chesterfield, Mo.; four grandchildren, Jeff (Nickie) Barnicle of Shawneetown, Stacy (Jim) Corcoran of Jackson, Tony Thompson of Jackson, and Theresa Barnicle of Chesterfield.

Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Thompson, Alexis Mansker, Ethan Geary, Rylie Grace Corcoran, Victor, Bethany and Madison Barnicle.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his mother, father, stepmother, Ida Gibbs Barnicle; three brothers, Earl, Harold "Barney" and Bill Barnicle.

Visitation will be at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 p.m. until time of service at 8 Friday. The Rev. Grant Gillard will officiate. Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Barnicle Chapel Cemetery near Steelville.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Jackson.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.