Nikki Barth

Nikki Barth, age 55, of Decorah, IA, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2025, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN, following health complications.

There will be 2 celebrations of life: one will be on May 4, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Elks in Decorah; the other will be on June 8, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Rockwell Community Center, Rockwell, Iowa.

Nikki Jo Barnes Barth was born April 13, 1969, in Mason City, Iowa, at Mercy Hospital.  She was the daughter of Bert E. and Velma K. Valley Barnes.  She joined her sisters and brothers, Terri, Robert, Richard, and Sabrina, to complete their family.  She was the princess of the family and had everyone wrapped around her finger!

She lived in Plymouth, Iowa, until she was 5 and then moved to Rockwell, Iowa, where she graduated with the class of 1987.  After high school, she graduated from Hamilton Business College and attended NIAAC in Mason City, Iowa.  She worked at Hardee’s, prepared taxes for many individuals, was a graphic designer for Metalcraft and worked in the lab at Kraft Foods in Mason City.

The most important person in her life was her son, Mitchell.  She adored him and loved him with unconditional love.  As a single mother, she made sure he had a wonderful life.

She met Eric Barth, the love of her life, in Lansing, Iowa, through her brother, Rich. They were married on May 10, 2014, at Decorah Lutheran Church, in Decorah, Iowa.  While living in Decorah, she managed several apartment buildings and worked at Collins.

In their free time together, she and Eric loved to go camping with friends and family, fishing in Lansing while staying at the family cabin, riding their motorcycle and watching tv. She was a competitive card player, always trying to beat her father-in-law, Gordy, every time they played together. She loved to play cards and Yahtzee.

She was the master negotiator; she could talk a bear out of his fur!  It didn’t matter if she was shopping or antiquing, she could get a deal, every time! She was a talented artist. More of her favorite things to do were antiquing, decorating her home, and eating at Taco Taco, and Godfather’s. At Christmas, she would pull out all of the decorations and deck her house with style.

Dogs were her passion.  She lived her entire life with dogs, Pierre, Baby, the St. Bernard, Queenie, Ben, Maggie, Romeo, Abby and Bella.

She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Milan Eugene and Alma Marie Moellermann Valley; paternal grandparents Bernard Wesley and Vera Valley Roberts Barnes, her father Bert Elwood Barnes, and niece, Elizabeth Antoinette Nowotny and nephew, Matthew Aaron Nowotny.

She is survived by her loving husband, Eric Barth of Decorah, Iowa; her son, Mitchell Lee Barnes and partner, Taylor Spies of Osage, Iowa; her mother, Velma Valley Barnes of Mason City, Iowa; siblings Terri (Marty) Nowotny of Victor, Iowa; Robert Barnes and partner, Lisa Peter of Mason City, Iowa; Richard Barnes and partner Bev Needham of Waukon, Iowa; and Sabrina Burton of Breese, Illinois. Nieces and nephews; Catherine (Tyler) Varo, Belle Plaine, Iowa; Christopher Nowotny (Nikki Junge) of Hiawatha, Iowa; Alexander (Kirsten) Nowotny of Victor, Iowa; Andrew (Megan) Nowotny of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Jonathan (Medora) Nowotny of Williamsburg, Iowa; Jennifer (Zach) Phelps of Tipton, Iowa; Marissa (Kevin) Mason of Mason City, Iowa; Derrick Barnes and partner Devon Mullenbach of Northwood, Iowa; Dustin Barnes of Mankato, Minnesota; Erin (Justin) Hamiel of Collinsville, Illinois, and Maddison Burton of St.Louis, Illinois.

She is also survived by her other family, Eric’s parents, Gordon and Gertrude Barth of Decorah, Iowa; his siblings: Geoff Barth and Tim Barth both of Austin, Minnesota; Sue Holladay of Decorah, Iowa; and Troy (Rose) Barth of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota; also nieces and nephews.

Nikki died in St. Mary’s Hospital Mayo on April 6, 2025.  She had been hospitalized for a heart bypass surgery but had complications.  She died surrounded by the people she loved.

While she believed she was going to heaven because “she was a good person,” she understood she was wrong, and asked Jesus to save her, and “He said yes. Jesus is Lord!” She is now spending eternity with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  For this, we are at peace with her death.

Send memorials or cards of condolence to: Eric Barth 601 East Main St., Decorah, Iowa 52101 or Mitchell Barnes 516 Chase St., Osage, Iowa 50461 or Velma Barnes 435 19th St. SW., Mason City, Iowa 50401.