Barbara Jane Bunnell, age 72, of Glidden passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 surrounded by family after a yearlong battle of complications from an ankle surgery.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Glidden with Fr. Merlin Schrad as Celebrant. Music for the Mass will be by Mary Ross and the St. Elizabeth Seton Choir. Lector for the Mass will be Carla Clark. Gift bearers will be Ellie Bunnell and Tessa Ackerman. Eucharistic minister will be Lori Danner. Casket bearers will be Dennis Clark, Greg Clark, Andrew Clark, Austen Clark, Aaron Gibney, Rick Pudenz and Jerry Dentlinger. Burial will be in the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery near Glidden.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden from 5 – 7 P.M. on Monday. The casket will be moved to St. Elizabeth Seton Church at 9:30 A.M. on Tuesday where visitation will resume until 10:15 A.M. prior to the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is established in Barb’s name for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Born on August 24, 1951 in Oelwein, IA, she was the daughter of Donald and Mary (Paige) Clark. Barb grew up outside of Elkader, IA. She graduated from high school in 1969. Barb attended Upper Iowa University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
Barbara was married to Wesley Bunnell on December 30, 1972 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader, IA, by Msgr. Klassen. Wes and Barb made their home in Glidden where Barb taught for Holy Spirit Catholic School, and later for Glidden-Ralston Public Schools.
Barb enjoyed her social groups, including Calendar Girls, Stitch, Olliettes and Book Club. She loved reading many books to her grandchildren. She liked growing African Violets, crocheting, antiquing with her sisters, and “going”.
Barb is survived by her children: daughter Shannon Bunnell (Jim) of Des Moines, daughter Karen Ackerman (Jason) of Ottumwa, son Adam Bunnell (Lisa) of Polk City, and son Ryan Bunnell (Jessica) of Johnston; ten grandchildren: Tessa, Miles, Simon, Ellie, Laura, Samuel, Stella, Nolan, Sarah and James; an aunt: Jeanette Delozier of Iowa City; two sisters: Rosemary Bossard (Robert) of Elkader and Ann Gibney (Dave) of Elkader; two brothers: Dennis Clark (Rose) of Elkader and Gregory Clark (Sue) of Elkader; a sister-in-law Marie Fernau of Waterloo; a brother-in-law Eugene Bunnell (Fern) of Jesup, IA, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Barb was preceded in death by her husband Wes Bunnell; her parents, Donald and Mary Clark, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Clarence and Hope Bunnell; her aunt Sister Mary Deborah Paige, her sister-in-law Josephine Gosse; and two brothers-in-law: Matt Fernau and Don Gosse.