My sincerest sympathy to the entire family especially to my colleague Dan. Your tribute to her Dan is so heart warming. Such amazing memories, let them fill your mind, warm your heart and help you through this difficult time. Although we did not meet she seems a great person, mom, wife and animal lover who will be sorely missed. May she rest peacefully.
Elisabeth Sereni
February 21, 2019
My sympathy to the family. Especially to Dan who has stood by Barb and Jim for so many years. Dan's tribute to his mother listed above is a testament to his deep affection for his mother. May those fond memories of good times now past comfort you during this difficult time. Know that those around you share your sadness, but lift you up in their thoughts and prayers to help you rise above the sorrow to remember the love and the good times.
Michael Daniels
February 20, 2019
Barb and Jim were two of our favorite customers. Always laughing and enjoying getting and giving us a "tough time". They were quite a pair. :) Please know that you have our condolences. Fondly...HyVee Drug Store 6th Street/ Rich Ripley
Rich Ripley
February 19, 2019
I’d add maybe that she really loved dogs. From Skippy, Rudy, Coco, Megan, Gretl, Josie, Lacee and Bailey. All Dachshunds except Josie a terrier and Lacee- the best- her sheltie.
She was proud of her Father, Marvin Wright who ran Wright Motors one of the first dealerships west of the Mississippi. She grew up in the house across from Howard Hall’s Brucemore - the Halls were friends as were many of the Cedar Rapids merchants and people of import. Marvin Wright got to be an executive for CRANDIC and VP of Iowa Electric. After coming back from San Francisco to see my Father (Merlyn E Rowley (Lynn) off to the South Pacific- a wild combination of planes to Iowa City- she got to the CRANDIC station to get a ride to CR and had no money, the Station Agent recognized the Name ‘Marv Wright’ and got her on the train.
A baby boom family, Dad got back from the War and Skip was born in 1946. They moved from my Nana and Papa’s house, where they had lived for 6 months - and loathed- to a little house my Dad, who had started a construction company, built. Kimberly (Kim - a boy) born 1949, Barbie 1951, David 1954 and Daniel E in ’58. The older kids enjoyed a life on Liberty Drive, another of Dad’s houses. In 1955 they moved a few houses down the street to 2007 Forest Dr. A gorgeous Red clapboard kinda Colonial with expertly crafted wood paneling in the living room and den, done by Dad’s journeyman carpenters. That’s the house I was born into, that’s the house my Mom loved best. It had it’s quirks- a bomb shelter with windows, no basement or garage because Dad said they’d just collect junk. But Mom thought it was a paradise with a full family, wonderful neighbors and Dad’s Construction and now also Insurance business.
The Christmas’s that we had were Mom’s magic productions. We’d gather at the top of the stairs and stare down into the front foyer, waiting to go downstairs to the left and see the tree with the bubblers and lights, presents both opened and wrapped spilling out onto the carpet, stockings stuffed with all the best things, for a stocking. Because of that I believed in Santa way past the usual age of doubt. She shined at that and loved doing it.
Skip’s car accident and death Feb 27, 1966 left my Mom and Dad with inconsolable pain which, among other things lead to the 1970 divorce. Mom around this time knitted us tons of sweaters, scarves. She enjoyed decoupage and antiquing old furniture. These things and her attitude inspired creativity in all of her children.
Mom’s new independence led her to take a job at Kirkwood where she met Jim Graichen, a Financial Aids Officer there and recent divorcee himself. The job didn’t work out but she fell in love with the big guy, from the Amanas originally, with a gentle heart, bright bearded face and jokes on-tap. March 14, 1974 they were married in Las Vegas and started almost 38 years of constant companionship. They enjoyed car trips around the immediate midwest but sometimes farther. Stopping at repeat favorite hotels where some of the staff would recognize my Mom’s white hair that matched Jim’s white beard and hair. Of course they’d generally bring the current dog to the adventure as well.
Usually though they’d prefer to just do the errands and end up in the parking lot of the Casey’s. Park the car, Jim goes inside to get a couple Lattes and they’d sit and watch the world go by.
Mom at this point began to flex the wealth of knowledge that she’d accumulated about Cedar Rapids history. She really remembered everything that she’d witnessed or been told about it. When she was little she met Will Rogers and Billie Burke when they visited the neighbors and were in a makeshift baseball game. Mom knew whose house was whose, who’s house used to be who’s and maybe what was there before it was who’s house. She also loved the Amanas and Jim’s roots there.
Jim’s illnesses that started in 2002, from bad to worse, 3 different things, and ended with his death in late 2011 left her very sad.
She enjoyed her independence at home, getting to Hardees, Zio Johns, Drugtown, Big Jim’s the car guy where she knew the people and many times their families. She wanted to give more than she should to Humane organizations, loved her doggies.
Daniel Rowley
February 18, 2019
Sharing in your sadness as you remember Barb. Our family came to know Barb and Jim because they were customers at a restaurant that Abe managed. We were always so happy to see them when they came in. They were loyal to Abe, following him from location to location. They always seemed to know what time to be there, when I would bring the kids in. On several occasions, they would bring presents in for the girls and family from the Amanas. Table side chat quickly turned into lovely conversations with Barb and Jim. Visited them at their home once, getting a chance to meet their beloved pet. Dan, Linda and family, know that we will miss seeing your mom. We hope you are comforted by your memories of Barb.
Ibrahim Kousheh and family
February 18, 2019
We were very sorry to hear of Aunt Barb's passing. We always enjoyed getting to visit her and Uncle Jim when we were in Cedar Rapids at Christmas and in the summer. She was like a second Grandparent to my children growing up and we will always be thankful how she and Jim took care of Sarah when she started College at Cornell. She loved her animals and I don't know how she did it but she could tell you the name of every pet she ever had going all the way back to her first one, and she could describe them in detail. Our heartfelt condolences to Dan, Linda, and the family on your loss. The wonderful memories will always be with you.
David Haughenbury Sr. and Family
February 18, 2019