Barbara Jane Howard, 97, of Burlington, died January 18, 2017 at Blair House.
Barbara was born July 12, 1919 in Hutchinson, Kansas, daughter of Fred and Mabel Long Frisch. She married R. Kenneth Howard on November 4, 1940, in Hutchinson. The family moved to Burlington in 1960 when Ken was transferred to take charge of the press room at the Hawk Eye newspaper. He died November 8, 1998.
Survivors are her four children: Jennifer L. (Sheila Smith) Howard, Flushing, Michigan; Nancy J. (Merwin, deceased) Van Zee, Denison, Texas; twins Kathleen J. (Claudio, deceased) Silvagni, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Richard K. (Katharine) Howard, Sperry, Iowa. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Kristina Goodwin, Sarah (Matt) Samuels, Andrew Howard and Kelsey Howard; seven great-grandchildren: Jack, Katy, Ellie, Zachary, Alex, Lacey and Lucas; one sister Amy Alice Peak, Kansas City, Missouri; nephew Allan Peak and niece Janet Wagner. She was predeceased by older sister Helen Dixon.
Barbara was an avid reader and a dedicated hand-quilter. She left a legacy of dozens of quilts and quilted wall-hangings to her family. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Burlington for more than fifty years. In keeping with her wishes she will be cremated and her ashes interred at Aspen Grove Cemetery.
A memorial service is planned for 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 22nd, at Lunning Chapel, 2620 Mt. Pleasant Street, Burlington with the Rev. David Yonker officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:30 p.m. until the time of service. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund, 321 N. 5th Street, Burlington, which her husband Kenneth helped create.
Mr. Gary Lee Rheinschmidt, 68, of Burlington passed away at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday, January 17, 2016, at Great River Hospice House, West Burlington, Iowa after battling lung cancer and Pulmonary RA.
Born July 19, 1948 in Burlington, he was the son of Paul William and Ruby Lillian (Schulte) Rheinschmidt and graduated Burlington High School.
On May 14, 1972, he married Debra Mellinger in Burlington, Iowa and they later divorced.
Mr. Rheinschmidt was a Vietnam War veteran, serving in the United States Air Force at U-Tapao Royal Airfield in Thailand as an aircraft electrician and flew two missions into Vietnam to recover downed aircraft. He was awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon.
Mr. Rheinschmidt worked for the family business installing flooring during his teen years. After returning from the military, he started his own business Rheinschmidt Lumber. He also designed and built furniture for Chittenden Eastman Company and J.C. Penney Company under the name Starr Manufacturing. He closed these businesses to go into partnership with his father at Burlington Linoleum and Tile Company, and eventually became the CEO and owner. He sold out and retired in 1999 due to health problems. He then worked part time for C.S. I. Industries as Maintenance Supervisor, overseeing repair and upkeep of all equipment and buildings, until his health failed a year ago.
Survivors include one daughter, Gina (David) Maupin; three grandsons, Cole, Quinton, and Gavin of Mediapolis, Iowa; two sisters, Sheila (Stephen) Zager of Burlington and LuAnn (Dennis) Vokolek of San Antonio, Texas; a brother, Scott Paul (Bonnie) Rheinschmidt; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
There will be no services for Mr. Rheinschmidt at this time. He requested his body be donated for medical research to Des Moines University Medical School in Des Moines, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, Mr. Rheinschmidt requested any memorial donations be sent to the
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. or Great River Hospice.
Lunning Chapel is in care of arrangements.
