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Barbara Joan Mathys was born on May 4, 1939, to Vern and Thelma (Corey) Wright in Dunlap, Iowa. She attended school at rural Boyer #5 and began school in Dunlap in 3rd grade, graduating in the class of 1957. On July 6, 1957, Barb was united in marriage to Donald Mathys in Denison, Iowa. Barb and Don were both working in Omaha, Nebraska at the time, so they lived in Omaha until March of 1958 when they moved to Soldier, Iowa. They welcomed their son Richard Mark Mathys into their family on June 9, 1958. Barb began her career in the Soldier Valley Saving Bank, later becoming Community Bank, in 1959 and was a devoted employee there for 45 years. She retired in 2004. Barb and Don were members of the Soldier Lutheran Church.
Barb enjoyed reading and gardening and was basically a home body. She thoroughly enjoyed time spent with her friends and family. Barb was thoughtful, wise and compassionate with people and animals and she was a blessing to those who knew her.
Barb died on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at her home in Soldier at the age of 85 years, ten months and eight days.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don on May 21, 2019; son, Mark on December 22, 1980; brothers, Alan, Darrell, Richard and Robert Wright; sisters, Norma Pedersen Hansen and Marilyn Wright, as an infant; brothers-in-law, David Pedersen, Stan Hansen and Jim Rose; and sister-in-law, Gwnne Wright. She is survived by her sister, Marilynn and husband Frank Kostal of Bella Vista, Arkansas; sisters-in-law, Nancy Wright of Omaha, Martha Wright of Dunlap, Norma Jean Rose of Deloit, Iowa and Patricia Crouch of Council Bluffs, Iowa; brother-in-law, Larry Mathys and his wife Lonya of Denison, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
501 Normal St PO Box 139, Woodbine, IA 51579
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