Barbara Schon

Barbara J. Schon, 86, of Waukon died Friday, August 7, 2015 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 13 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Waukon, with Rev. Duane Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Thursday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.
Barbara Jean Schon was born February 6, 1929 in Ottumwa, the daughter of Emory Howard and Valeta Elaine (Eaton) Sample. She graduated from North High School in Des Moines in 1948. July 27, 1948, Barbara married Donald Nelson Schon in Hedrick.
Their three daughters (Janis, Jean and Joan) were born in California, and their two sons (David and Dale) were born in Waukon. In raising these five children, Barbara sewed their clothes and fed them with Don’s bountiful garden and the chickens they raised. The family enjoyed singing rounds on their trips in the car to the country to visit great-grandparents.
Barbara was very supportive and a great source of strength as her children pursued their hopes and dreams. As the family grew, Barbara was blessed with nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly. She enjoyed spending time with them and helping to raise them.
Barbara was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Waukon and was active in the Christmas programs and women’s ministries. She was also a member of the Farm Bureau Chorus. Barbara’s hobby of cross-stitch and embroidery resulted in baby blankets for each of her nine grandchildren. She was a member of the Quilters Guild and visited many quilt shops for fabric around the county with a close friend.
Barbara enjoyed traveling by rail with Don to Seattle, San Jose, and also New Orleans. They also enjoyed day bus trips sponsored by Waukon State Bank. Additionally, Barbara worked at Northgate Care Center in Waukon for 18 years; first as a nurse’s aide, then as breakfast cook, then finally as a cook manager.
Barbara is survived by her children: Janis (Larry) Fennern of San Jose, CA, Jean Schon of Waukon, Joan (Pres Brawner) Schon of Ft. Collins, CO, David (Roshelle Svoboda) Schon of Holmen, WI and Dale (Linda) Schon of Central City; nine grandchildren: Owen (Debi) Fennern, Andrea (Israel Santiago) Fennern, Tyson (Kayla) Fennern, Sara Schon, Michael (Katherine) Schon, Daniel Schon, Hannah Schon, Nathan (Chelsea Regan) Schon and Alissa (Josh Baker) Schon; three great-grandchildren: Evan, Sadie and Luke Fennern; her sister, Elaine Huss of Jefferson; and her brother, Howard (Peg) Sample of Mesa, AZ.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Donald, who died in 1998.
Honorary casketbearers are Barbara's grandchildren and their spouses, Larry Fennern, Jeff and Jay Schon, Paul Promnitz, Paul Roeder, and Steve Kiley. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.