Ettleson, Barbara 1947-2011

ETTLESON, BROCKETT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/6/2013 at 10:04:08

Source: Decorah Journal July 14, 2011

Barbara Ettleson

Barbara Ettleson was born July 14, 1947, in Chicago, Ill. and died July 12, 2011, in Decorah of liver cancer. A memorial service for Barb is 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 17, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Avenue. Donations should be directed to the Humane Society of Northeast Iowa or the Winneshiek County Democratic Party.

Barb and her spouse, Pat, were married two years ago after being in a committed relationship for 29 years. They moved here from Des Moines, where Barb had been a consultant for 22 years for business, government and non-profits. Prior to owning her own business she was deputy director of the Iowa Department of Personnel and director of training for the Department of Human Services. She also served on the Board of Directors of Wellmark Blue Cross.

Barb freely gave of her professional talent to assist non-profits, as chair of the Young Women’s Resource Center and chair of the Planned Parenthood Book Sale in Des Moines, as well as serving on boards and committees for numerous other organizations. While in Decorah, Barb served on the Oneota Community Co-op Board of Directors, the Upper Iowa Explorerland Commission, chaired the Winneshiek County Democrats, organized a spay-neuter program for PAW, served on the Smart Planning Commission and the County-Wide Redistricting committee. The annual DigIN weekend was Barb’s idea and inspiration. Barb relocated to Decorah from Des Moines to live in an off-grid house.

Barb is survived by her partner/spouse of 32 years, Pat Brockett; a brother, Bruce Ettleson, of Elrfieda Ariz., a brother, Dean Ettleson, of Tucson, Ariz.; a niece, Callie, of Alexandria, Va.; a sister-in-law, Diane Brockett, of Washington, D. C.; and her companion dog, Katie.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.