Darcy Jean Barnes

DARCY JEAN BARNES, age 71, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at her home surrounded by family. Darcy fought a long hard battle with metastatic kidney cancer.

Darcy was born on November 16, 1953 in Waseca, Minnesota to Joseph M. and Maureen A. (Connors) Collins. Darcy attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Waseca High School in 1972. She went on to attend the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

Darcy married Keith W. Barnes on June 1, 1974 at Sacred Heart Church in Waseca. They lived in Ames, IA for several years while Keith was in college, later returning to Waseca where they raised their children, Sara and Joseph.

Darcy’s faith, family, and friendships were central to her life. She was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church in Waseca and a devoted member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Over the years, she served as the Faith Formation Director at Sacred Heart and shared her musical talents by playing piano and organ during services.

As a child, Darcy was actively involved in 4-H and Girl Scouts, experiences that later led her to become a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop.

Darcy was a deeply creative person who enjoyed a wide variety of handcrafts, including cross-stitch, Hardanger embroidery, decorative painting, knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She was also a certified Bob Ross Instructor in all categories of the Bob Ross painting technique. She was an active member of the Waseca Stitchers-in-Time Quilt Guild, where she served on the retreat committee for many years. In addition to her artistic talents, Darcy was an excellent cook who made sure no one ever left hungry. Whether at family gatherings or the annual fishing camp, she always prepared “more than plenty” of food.

Darcy’s creativity also extended to her work life. She co-owned the Happy Hands Shoppe, a craft consignment store in Waseca, and later worked as a customer service representative at Viking Woodcraft.

She is survived by her husband, Keith; children, Sara and Joseph (Evelyn); siblings, Jody (Timothy) O’Connell, Timothy (Ruth) Collins, Thomas (Dina) Collins, Christopher Collins; grandchildren, Chloe, Dyllan Ward, Hunter, and Andrew; great grandchildren, Zoey and Alfred Dempski; in-laws, Larry (Sandy) Barnes, Glenna Tweedie, and Kay Barnes; aunts and uncles, Eugene (Sandy) Matz, Russell (Terri) Ingram, Millie Szyszka; and many other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Michael; and other extended relation.

Visitation for Darcy will be from 5 – 7 PM on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the State Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Rosary will begin at 12:30 PM at the church. Burial will immediately follow Mass at Calvary Cemetery in Waseca.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society are preferred.