Scott H. Barnett, age 74, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at his home from natural causes.

Celebration of life will be held from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101.  Scott’s ashes will be spread per his request near the Upper Iowa river that he enjoyed most of his life.

Memorial contributions may be made in Scott’s name to: The United Way, Habitat For Humanity or the local food pantry.

Scott was born in McAllen, Texas on October 26, 1951. His family moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1953 and then to Mason City, Iowa in 1959. As a youth, Scott enjoyed skateboarding, model cars, slot car racing, tennis and Green Bay Packer football games. Scott was active in the Boy Scouts and was proud to have earned the organization’s highest honor rank of Eagle Scout. Scott was a 1970 graduate of Mason City HS and earned a BS degree in Sociology from Luther College. He worked for many years at the local non-profit, the North East Iowa Area Community Action, which benefited those in need and seniors on fixed incomes by providing weatherizing services on older homes to upgrade their energy efficiency. Scott was one of the early proponents of the Oneota Food Co-Op. He also coached local Park and Rec basketball teams of elementary school kids. Scott enjoyed golf, especially at Silvercrest and with The Bums Club golf group in Arizona. Scott also pheasant hunted each Fall with his brother and friends in Mason City. Scott enjoyed a good game of cribbage, a GB Packer football game (stock owner), a good joke and a cold Heineken.

Scott was a relatively private person with a few close friends. Throughout his life, Scott continued to exemplify the ideals that he had absorbed during his Boy Scouting years: helping those in need (usually strangers), volunteering his time for causes he believed in which benefited others, deep loyalty to his friends, trustworthy in all dealings and a friend to all. In short, Scott lived his life like the Eagle Scout that he was, doing good for others. He will be missed by his little brothers who he shepherded through their early years and certainly by many in the community of Decorah, many of whom he helped and aided in their time of need.

Scott is survived by his brothers Martin (Mary) and Ross, nephew Chad, cousin Georgia Ann and best friend Rich “Deke” Gosen. He was predeceased by his parents William B and Ruth E Barnett.