BARLOW, Joan Kathryn 1934 - 2012

BARLOW, SHEEHY, KRIEGER, GREINER, OBERG, HAYMAKER, BERHNARDT, TAYLOR, BAILEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/19/2012 at 13:56:11

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Page 6

Joan K. BARLOW

Joan K. BARLOW, 77, died Wednesday (May 9, 2012) at Jefferson County Health Center, Fairfield, Iowa.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 19th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 302 Fifth Street S.E., with the Rev. Kenneth B. Gehling presiding as well as other priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque concelebrating.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 18, at Hogan-Breker-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, with a wake service beginning at 7 p.m. conducted by Deacon Mike Byrne and Karen Byrne.

Joan Kathryn (SHEEHY) BARLOW was born on November 3, 1934, in Mason City, the daughter of John and Rose (KRIEGER) SHEEHY. She graduated from Holy Family High School in 1953. After graduation, she worked as a nurse's aide at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. She also worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator, collections agent, and helped provide public relations including instructing local groups on the use of the rotary dial telephone.

She was united in marriage to Jack Arnold BARLOW on July 2, 1955, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City. They made their home in Mason City. She was the mother to three children, Michele, Ann and Patrick. She devoted her life ot the care and upbringing of her children. Joan also participated in many church activities serving as lector, communion minister, and was active in the ladies church circles. Her husband Jack entered training for the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in 1975. Throughout this time until his death, they collaborated on many aspects of ministry at St. Joseph Church including marriage preparation retreats and sponsor couples. Her efforts also included working on the many TEC retreats, the Newman Booster Club, and as a volunteer at Birthright.

Joan held many hobbies in her life including making ceramics, flower arranging, and organizing family genealogy with equal pride in her German and Irish heritage. She loved big band music and fell in love with her husband on the dance floor. She was a strong advocate for her children's education and faith development. Joan also learned how to use email to stay in contact with her friends and attended "rusty hinges" water aerobics later in life.

Those left to celebrate her life include her three children, Michele GREINER and her husband, Michael, of Fairfield, IA, Ann OBERG and her husband, Kevin, of Sioux Falls, SD, and Patrick BARLOW and his wife, Lila (HAYMAKER) of La Crosse, WI; four grandchildren, Alex GREINER, Kara Jo GREINER, Kathryn BARLOW, and Paula BARLOW; sisters-in-law Viola SHEEHY, Patricia SHEEHY, Esther SHEEHY, Mary Margaret SHEEHY, Betty BERNHARDT, Marion BARLOW, Sharon TAYLOR (Garry), and Carol BARLOW; brothers-in-law Doug BAILEY, Richard BARLOW (Louise), and several nieces, nephews and friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, her parents, her brothers Ted, John (Jack), Jim, and Tom; her sisters Patricia, Mary, Sr Sean (Rita) OP, and Ruth Ann as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Newman Foundation, KCMR radio, or a charity of the donor's choice that reflects their memories of Joan.

Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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