Ralf Barnes Obituary (1965 - 2026)

It is with unrelenting sorrow that we announce the passing of Ralf Patrick Barnes, 61, of Orem, Utah. Ralf passed away unexpectedly on Sunday August 2nd, after developing complications of an advanced treatment for the cancer he had lived with for many years. He endured unimaginable hardship in an effort to extend his life and be here for his family. Family meant everything to him. Words can’t adequately express how much we miss him already. Ralf was born on May 27th, 1965 to Fred Ralf and Sharon Elton Barnes in Roy, UT. Ralf was the youngest of three children, with two older sisters. From almost his first moments, he was comic relief in the family, creatively coming up with pranks, performances, and jokes. His dad, Fred, and him fed each others’ sense of humor. Ralf always loved music. His mom had him take piano lessons, as she did all her kids, but Ralf quickly moved away from piano to take up his true love, the guitar. He practiced avidly and became an excellent rock guitarist. Ralf was never one to blindly follow rules. But beginning from a young age, he was guided by a strong sense of ethics and doing what’s right. Ralf was an ambitious person who always worked hard in order to provide for his family. While working as a delivery driver for FedEx, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Utah. Through hard work and dedication, he steadily advanced within the company, eventually becoming an Operations Manager. Determined to continue growing professionally, Ralf earned a Master of Business Administration from Utah State University. After several years in operations management, he discovered a passion for human resources and intentionally redirected his career. He completed a second Master’s degree in Human Resources from Utah State before going on to serve as an HR Business Partner at International Paper, followed by many years as HR Director at Wasatch Behavioral Health. Ralf ultimately found his professional home as Human Resources Director for Utah County Government, a role he thoroughly enjoyed. Ralf’s passion for learning extended beyond his own education. He taught both undergraduate and graduate business courses at Utah Valley University and University of Phoenix as adjunct faculty. At some point he was also a certified pilot! Switching from Ralf to DAD! As mentioned, Dad was the ultimate family man, and spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids was the core passion of his life. Essentially every decision he made was guided by what was best for his family. He was very lucky and fortunate to come across Suzy Stone (MOM) back in 1983, his best friend and the love of his life. They built an extraordinary life together. Dad was also a fanatical lover of music, and instilled that same love in us kids and grandkids. He loved all types of music, from Black Sabbath to The Beatles, but we can’t go without mentioning his all time favorite band RUSH. A handyman extraordinaire and true Mr. Fix-it-All, Dad built and repaired countless things around his home and the homes of his kids. All of the projects he completed will remain for years to come and will serve as constant reminders of his presence. Dad was also an avid reader and had a particular love for non-fiction, especially stories of perseverance and extraordinary human achievement, such as the adventures of Earnest Shackleton, or mountaineers in the Himalayas. Also, it is worth repeating that Dad had the most amazing sense of humor, and all of the kids and grandkids take after him in that regard. He loved making us laugh, telling hilarious stories and we all loved getting him to laugh so hard that tears would flow from his eyes. Other hobbies Dad enjoyed were flying RC Airplanes (and aviation in general), traveling, hiking, yard work, and astronomy. Ralf/Dad is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Suzy Barnes; children, Logan Barnes, Britany Barnes (Jake Gallbraith), Brandon Barnes (Cassidy Olsen), and Lance Barnes (Anmer Yelita Barnes); grandchildren, Ralf William Barnes, Mathilda Barnes, Dorothy Barnes and Theodore Barnes; sisters, Diane Barnes (Bruce Fagg) and Barbara Barnes (Eric Chesmar). Ralf was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Sharon Barnes. Please join us for a Celebration of Ralf’s Life to be held on Friday, August 7 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm at the Historic County Courthouse in Provo (51 S University Ave). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family at @Suzy-Barnes.