Fassbinder, Barbara A. (Herring) 1953-1994

MCELROY, HERRING, FASSBINDER, WALSTON, VALLIERE

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 12/30/2009 at 18:43:42

Barbara A Herring Fassbinder, daughter of James and Ethel (McElroy) Herring of Marion, Iowa, was born September 29, 1953, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She died of AIDS Tuesday, September 20, 1994 in University Hospitals, Iowa City. She was 40 years old.

Barbara graduated from Regis High School in 1971 and attended Mount Mercy College. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1975 with a R.N./B.S.N. in nursing.

Barb and Dave Fassbinder were married May 28, 1973, in Marion. Three children were born to this union.

Barb served in nursing positions in several hospitals. In 1986, while on duty in a hospital emergency room setting, she was infected with AIDS. She was one of the first health care workers to be so exposed. For the past four years, Barb had been a strong advocate of universal precautions and had spoken to many health care groups throughout the country. She appeared before Congress regarding AIDS issues and was in the media on many occasions. She received national recognition in 1992 by the surgeon general and the Department of Health for her efforts in AIDS education. She was honored as Iowa Nurse of the Year in 1991 by the Iowa Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association for her personal courage and outstanding commitment to AIDS education and public welfare. Barb served on the National Health Care Reform Committee and Iowa State Commission on AIDS and was an active member of St. Patrick's Parish, Monona. Barb was a wonderful, loving wife, mother, daughter and friend as well as an exemplary professional. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband, David; daughters, Eva and Emily, and son Joel, all of Monona; her parents, James and Ethel Herring of Marion; three sisters, Kathryn (Robert) Fassbinder of Elgin, Mary (Michael) Walston of Kewaunee, Wisc., and Susan (Mark) Valliere of Rock Island, Ill.; four brothers, J. Stephen (Myra) Herring of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Edward (Karen) Herring of Rockford, Ill., Mark (Sally) Herring of Manitowoc, Wisc., and John (Nancy) Herring of Cedar Rapids; her grandmother, Martha McElroy of Creston, her husband's parents, Gerald and Jean Fassbinder, and brother, William, all of Postville and 27 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Monona. Co celebrants were Father John Moran and Father Leo Riley. Pallbearers were Ben and Bill Fassbinder, Mike Worrall, Mike Osterholm, Joanne Hedemann, and Sherie Dawson. Schultz's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Monona City Cemetery.

Postville Herald-Leader newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
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