Erin K. Barfels

On September 4, 2022, Erin Kay Barfels, 49, finished a 12-year race with cancer crossing the finish line to join her mother Judy and sister Dana where they will continue to cheer us on. Erin was born on April 9, 1973 in Des Moines the daughter of James and Judith (Crawford) Schreck. She graduated from Valley High School in 1991 and Iowa State University in 1995 where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She went on to earn a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Iowa State in 1998.

Throughout her career, Erin held a number of positions in human resources including time with Eaton Corporation, ARAG, GuideOne Insurance and most recently Carlson Group. She was an active supporter and fundraiser for Can Play Sports, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the West Des Moines Community Schools Foundation.

Erin is survived by her husband, Christopher; their three children, Ellie Lynn, Chase Jaret and Evelyn Christine; as well as her father and stepmother, Jim and Nancy Sharpe Schreck of Clive; her sister, Amy; and brother, Jamie (Jennifer). Also surviving are her in-laws, Ann and Wayne Barfels; sister-in-law, Marisa (Steve) Groh; stepsisters, Carey (Mike) Rafferty, Katey (J) Hartzell, and Kelsey (Luke) Brody; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Erin was also ‘mom’ over the years to numerous Des Moines Buccaneers from across the United States and Canada. She was preceded in death by her mother, Judith; sister, Dana; uncle, Bill; and all her grandparents.

The family would like to especially thank Dr. Kathleen Jones, Dr. Steven Heddinger and Dr. Richard Deming, as well as the staff of both Methodist Hospital here in Des Moines and the the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for all of their care and compassion.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2022 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, in West Des Moines. For those unable to attend the funeral it will be livestreamed at http://hopeonline.tv/specialevents. Erin would especially enjoy your presence at a watch party for the Iowa/ISU football game on Saturday, September 10 at The Beer House on 86th street in Urbandale.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her name to Can Play Sports in West Des Moines.