Barbara Ann Ganther Bunting

November 1, 1925  -  July 20, 2024

Barbara Ann Ganther Bunting, 98, beloved wife of the late Rhiney Bunting, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away July 20, 2024, at Terrace Glen Village, Marion, Iowa.

A visitation will be held Thursday, August 8, 2024, from 9-11am, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello. The funeral service will follow at 11am. Pastor Holly Knouse will officiate.  Interment will follow in the Wayne Zion Cemetery. Thoughts, memories, and condolences may be left by using the Guestbook . Memorials may be sent to Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello, or to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marion.

Barbara is survived by 6 of her 7 children (she called them "the 7 D's") and their families: Diane Keys, Gladstone, MO; David (Ann), Cedar Rapids; Dale (Terri), West Des Moines; Dean (Kim), Mesa, AZ; Darrell (Kathy), Nevada, IA; and Dorothy Montgomery, Simi Valley, CA; 19 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren plus a 36th due in January; her brother Dr. Howard Ganther; many nieces and nephews; and friends of all ages.

Barbara Ann Ganther was the daughter of Edward Otto Ganther and Marion Pearl Severson Ganther.  She was born November 1, 1925, west of Adrian, Missouri, at the Ganther family farm. She was baptized on June 25, 1939, at the United Methodist Church, Adrian. She attended a country school and graduated in 1943 from Adrian High School, where she received the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) scholarship. She attended Central Business College in Kansas City, MO, and began a secretarial career with an accounting firm. She subsequently joined her family in Springfield, MO, where she worked as a civilian at O'Reilly Army General Hospital and where she met her future husband at a Christmas dance.

Barbara married Rhinehart "Rhiney" Bunting on August 5, 1945, at Grace Methodist Church, Springfield. This marriage brought her to Iowa, where she became part of the large Gerd and Marie Bunting family. She was confirmed on February 17, 1946, at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello, IA. She, Rhiney, and their children lived in Anamosa; farmed south of Viola; and then, in retirement, moved to Marion where they became members of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Marion. Barbara remained connected to both churches for the rest of her life.

Barbara raised her children, volunteered at church as a Sunday school teacher and Vacation Bible School leader, volunteered as a Bluebird and Campfire leader, traveled, and was actively involved in learning about her genealogy and family history. She loved gardening, entertaining, dancing, letter writing, doing crossword puzzles, reading, and history, especially Linn County and Iowa history. As a descendant of the Usher family in Linn County, IA, she did volunteer work for almost 25 years to facilitate the annual Usher Family gatherings at the Usher's Ferry Historical Site. As her children grew, she was hired as one of the first teacher aides for the Anamosa Community School District (Viola). In retirement, she returned to college to earn a one-year clerical diploma. She subsequently worked at Kirkwood Community College for 10 years, in the agriculture department and then with international students. She received the President's Award for Outstanding Part-Time Service, 1995-1996.

Like her mother and maternal grandmother before her, Barbara emphasized with her children the importance of good character, integrity, and ethical behavior. She was beloved by many because of her gifts of listening and encouragement. She modeled her faith by kindness, encouragement, patience, and always being a ready and active listener; and she had a life-long curiosity about people and places. She seldom met a person that she didn't find interesting. She sent hundreds of cards and notes of encouragement for more than 80 years of her life, until a stroke took away the use of her right hand.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Rhiney; her daughter Darlene Bunting Minx; her sons-in-law Duane Keys, Charles "Chip" Minx, and Kent Johnson; and, in 2023, by her two sisters, Dorothy Hughes and Thelma Yancey.

Barbara's life was filled with God's blessings and the joy of watching her large family flourish. She connected with family members of every age. She was the Bunting family's wise counselor, storyteller, and biggest encourager. She never lost her ability to remember birthdays or obscure details such as the name of a family pet. Her philosophy was simple: Let go and let God; family and friends are what life is all about; if you cannot change the circumstances of your life, make a positive attitude adjustment and move forward; eat to live, rather than live to eat; focus outwardly on others, rather than inwardly on self; reach out to others rather than waiting for others to come to you; and every person is interesting with an interesting life story to tell – you just need to ask them about themselves.

The Bunting family would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Terrace Glen Village, Marion, and Hospice of Mercy for their compassionate and thoughtful care of Barbara and her family. We would also like to express our love and gratitude to Barbara's devoted caregiver and dear friend Ed Fowler.