Charlotte Ann Barr, 85 years, died Thursday, May 12, 2022 in West Des Moines, Iowa. Charlotte was born November 18, 1936 at Rock Island, Illinois, the daughter of Alexander A. Zuber and Victoria L. (Hrdyna) Zuber. Her family moved to Muscatine and later to Fort Madison. She met the love of her life, James W. Barr, their senior year at Fort Madison Senior High School. After graduating in 1954, they were married on September 25, 1955. They were married 59 years before Jim’s death on April 30, 2015.
Together with her husband Jim, Charlotte attended Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois and went on to graduate from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago, Illinois. She and Jim returned to Ft. Madison in 1958 and together with parents Jack and Lila Barr, built and established their family funeral business, Barr Memorial Chapel. It is still owned and operated today by their son Thomas and wife Deanna Barr, after 64 years of funeral service to the surrounding area. Charlotte felt honored to be an Iowa and Illinois licensed Funeral Director. She was a 50 year member of P.E.O., Chapter J.O. with her mother, Victoria, daughters, Margo and Kathy, and daughter-in-law, Deanna. Charlotte had also been a past member of T.T.T. and the Fort Madison United Methodist Church. She was an avid reader and keeper of the 1st Edition books she had enjoyed.
Charlotte traveled to Fish Lake, near Chetek, Wisconsin nearly every year, which started as a secluded vacation for her Chicago grandparents in the 1920's. She loved undisturbed nature and eventually she and Jim built a home away from home at Fish Lake. They spent most of their later years in life there and especially loved their time with their children, grandchildren, and family.
She is survived by her four children: Thomas (Deanna) Barr, of Fort Madison; Carolyn Krone, of Fort Madison; Kathleen Meardon, of Solon, Iowa and Margo (Pete) Eicher, of West Des Moines, Iowa, 13 grandchildren: Jason (Spring)Van Houten, Cara (Leo) Gilliland, Jack (Sally) Van Houten, Cassie (Manoj) Kumar, Elyse (Jon) Meardon-Esa, Andrea Meardon, Jasper (Wesley) Krone, Levi Meardon (Felicia Broccolo), Amanda (Chris) Banks, Clayton Eicher, Nick (Angela) Krone, Elizabeth (Sawyer) Krotz and Joshua Barr; 16 great-grandchildren, Dom, Jeret, Asher, Lydia, Judah, Elena, Ephraim, Willa, Aaryan, Lila Caroline, Sadie Charlotte, Emma Victoria, Lachlan, Myla, Mia and Mara. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one brother, Charles Zuber, granddaughter, Emily Van Houten and sons-in-law, Joseph Van Houten and William A. “Andy” Meardon.
Her family will greet friends from 1:00 - 2:00 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at the Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison. A funeral service will follow and begin at 2:00 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at the funeral home. Private burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Fort Madison. A memorial has been established, contributions may be left at or mailed to Barr Memorial Chapel, 1919 Avenue F, Fort Madison, Iowa 52627. An online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.
