Barbara Boston (1946-2021)

BOSTON, JOHNSEN, EARLANSON, MILLER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/27/2021 at 13:47:52

Barbara (Boston) Johnsen-Earlanson, 75, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque of COVID-19.

A private family service will be held with entombment at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque, is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.leonardfuneralhome.com.

Barbara Rose Boston was born Jan. 9, 1946, in Sioux City, the daughter of Venon & Rose (Miller) Boston. She graduated from Sioux City East High School in 1964 and earned a Bachelor of Art's degree from Marycrest College in 1994.

Barb married Larry Johnsen in 1972 with whom she had two children a son, Justin Arden Johnsen, and a daughter, Erica Karena Johnsen. They separated in 1981 and subsequently divorced. In 1994, she married William "Bill" Earlanson in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Barb was an avid, adventurous cook, enthusiastically spending hours preparing meals for family and friends. Her love of cooking was complimented by her passion for gardening and growing vegetables year after year for use in her expansive collection of recipes. She passed along this love of cooking (and vegetables) to both of her children, and they continue this tradition and passion with their families. Though, the most important thing that Barb passed on to her children was her compassion, her heart, and a mother's love, despite the challenges that life presented to her.

Finally, it would be a glaring omission if her love of cats was not mentioned. She shared this love with Bill, and together they nurtured a variety of feline furbabies over the years. Most recently, she expressed this love with a gentle smile during a zoom meeting, when she saw the newest addition to her extended family, a grandkitten.

Barbara is survived by her husband Bill; two children, Justin (Michele) Johnsen of Heyworth, Ill., and Erica (Brant) Scheidecker of Dubuque; five grandchildren, Addison Johnsen, Ellery Johnsen, Corinne Scheidecker, Aven Johnsen, and Genevieve Scheidecker; and her sister Amy (Dave) Berry of Independence, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Dubuque Regional Humane Society or Hillcrest Family Services, which offers counseling and mental health services to the community.

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Published by Sioux City Journal on Jan. 20, 2021.