Barbara Ann (Webb) Ochanpaugh (2023)

HEGRE, JURGENS, LUEDERS, OCHANPAUGH, WEBB

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:53

Iles Funeral Home
Des Moines, Iowa

Barbara Ann (Webb) Ochanpaugh was born in small town Earlham, Iowa on Jan 3, 1932 and passed peacefully on Feb 7, 2023 in Des Moines surrounded by her family.

She grew up in Woodburn, Iowa enjoying friends, playing 6x6 basketball, and graduating from its high school as the Valedictorian in 1950. Barb married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Ochanpaugh, in 1952 wherein they moved to big city, Des Moines.

Barb is survived by John’s wife Patti Ochanpaugh; sons Mike Ochanpaugh; Mark (Carla Hegre) Ochanpaugh; daughter Bonnie (Brad) Juergens; and son Jay Ochanpaugh (Christie Lueders). Additionally, Barb was blessed with fourteen grandkids, twenty-eight great-grandkids, and several great-great-grandkids. She was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest son, John Ochanpaugh, and four sisters.

It is customary in obituaries to celebrate life with insights of who one was and notable accomplishments. For tradition’s sake: She loved being with people! She enjoyed coffee, cards, crosswords, and won more-times-than-not in Scrabble. She was in bowling leagues for many years and treasurer for most of them. She enjoyed travel and always spoke of her trip through Europe with her two oldest sons amongst an orchestral accordion tour.

She had many roles at Glen Echo Christian Church and enjoyed singing in the choir for years. Barb lived at Jacob’s Place Apartments for over two decades and was the resident’s president for much of that time. She was also the Ramsey (Village) Guild president for many years while a young mother; then … full circle, she would later be admitted to the Ramsey Village Memory Units in 2022; she resided there until her passing. Barb was a valuable and trusted employee while working at different jobs for many years each, to include 3E Engineering, Dunkin Donuts mgr, Commission for the Blind (via Iowa State Capital cafeteria mgr and Sears Employee cafeteria mgr), and DMPS food service. While waitressing, urban legend argues how many dinner plates (with meals) she could carry, without using a giant tray, but rather positioned/overlapped up her arm(s) … successfully to her customers: No one disputes it was at least fifteen plates, but it was arguably in the twenties.

All these personal highlights, and hundreds of others, will be forgotten in time. But Barb’s greatest legacy was her love and example to generations that were born from her. As her children, what we witnessed in her will forever permeate who we are, what we hope to be, and by demonstration how we can help or enhance others. Her example flowed to our twelve kids and their twenty-five children.

Our mom was smart, really smart, but she’d downplay it more often than not. Her mind was quick, and the wittiest … most humorous woman we’ve ever known. She was generous with her time and resources. She instilled family ties and reunions despite the world’s onslaught of presumed or higher priorities.

Friends (and even spouses) can leave, but one ALWAYS has their family … the nearby branches of one’s family tree to have your back … even when we were wrong. We can fight, argue, and hurt each other … but no one else can. Our mom’s legacy will be of never quitting or accepting less to accomplish what needed to be done. What will last for generations is her intelligence, hard work, emotion, charity, and her sense of humor. No one in our family could ever question her unconditional love for us. Conversations with our mom were genuine and rewarding. She will be GREATLY missed … until we see her again.

Thank you for your relationship with Barb … or with us. We all become better people by the good we can replicate from others. Thank you for your friendship. God bless and peace. Let us pray for one another.

Visitation with family will be at Iles Westover Funeral Home on Monday, February 13, 2023 from 4p - 7p (located at 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50322).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ramsey Village of Des Moines, Iowa.

Arrangements are under the direction of Iles Westover Chapel.

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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