Deb Werner-Barnett, of Bellevue, Nebraska, passed away on January 8, 2020. She was born July 22, 1954, in Mascoutah, IL, to Paul and Donna (Adamson) Werner. As an Air Force family, they traveled extensively across the US, stationed at bases in Illinois, California, Ohio, and Alaska. In August 1970, her parents settled in her mother’s hometown of Brookings, SD. Deb graduated from Brookings High School in 1973, then began studying at South Dakota State University in the fall. She graduated in 1979 with a degree in Public Recreation.
On November 26, 1975, Deb married Mark Barnett in Brookings and a few years later they started out on another adventure together as an Air Force family. They were stationed at bases in California, North Dakota, and Nebraska, where they eventually chose to settle. They had two children, Trevor and Ashley.
After moving to Offutt AFB, Deb began volunteering at Golden Hills Elementary when Ashley started kindergarten there. Eventually, the school principal, Harlan Cook, told her she should get paid to work there, since she was there all the time. Deb worked for 33 years as a paraprofessional and administrative assistant at Golden Hills. She touched the lives of all the students she worked with, both in the classroom and in the office at Golden Hills.
Deb was preceded in death by her father, Paul, her son, Trevor, and her husband, Mark. She is survived by her daughter, Ashley (Benjamin Mixan) Barnett (Lincoln, NE), brother Mark (Ingrid) Werner and mother Donna Werner (all of Brookings), three grandchildren (Orion, Finley, and Louisa), her beloved dog, Ranger, and her “granddog,” Ellie. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Rita Barnett (Brookings); brothers-in-law Greg Barnett (Minneapolis) and Patrick (Kim) Barnett (Jackson, MN); sisters-in-law Ann (Rick) Volin (Brookings), Jean Barnett (Albuquerque), Rosalie Barnett (Golden Valley, MN), and Eileen (Jed) Skogerboe (Spirit Lake, IA); many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and members of her Golden Hills “family.”
Deb loved dogs, playing scrabble, cookies, and doing artsy home renovation projects. She also loved getting to be a grandma to Orion, Finley, and Louisa. Her favorite color was plaid (followed closely by glitter). Debbie passed away in Lincoln, NE, on January 8, 2020, at the age of 65.
Memorial Service: 2:00 pm Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Roper and Sons South Lincoln Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Dr. (40th and Yankee Hill).
Memorials suggested to the American Heart Association, Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland, or Camp Cocker Rescue.