In Memory of Barbara Ann Milner

Barbara Ann Milner, age 69, of Arthur, Iowa passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2016 at the Mercy Medical Center, of Sioux City, Iowa.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the St. Martin’s Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa. The Father Richard D. Ball will officiate, with committal services following at the St. Martin’s Catholic Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary held at 5:00 p.m., and a Vigil Service held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 10, 2016, at the Christensen – Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Barbara Ann Milner was born on July 17, 1947, In Denison, Iowa, to Lloyd Emmett and Catherine Marie (Henkelman) Fineran. She was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Faith. Barb attended school in Odebolt and graduated from Odebolt High School with the class of 1965.

After graduation she attended beauty school in Sioux City, Iowa. On September 28, 1980, Barbara was united into marriage to Jack P. Milner in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

After Barb’s kids were a little older she went back to college at DMACC and graduated with an associate’s degree in accounting. Barb worked for many years as a bookkeeper and tax preparer. In 2007 Barb and her daughter-in-law Brenda bought Aunt B’s Café in Arthur, Iowa. Working regularly, you might remember her as your favorite hostess, always with a bright smile and a kind word for all who came through the door.

Barb had a deep love for her children, grandchildren, and all of her large family. It was also not odd to see the neighborhood children or even kids she had just met fall in love with her due to her kind heart and giving disposition. Barb enjoyed giving out her knitted projects as gifts, tending to her flower garden, taking care of her fish pond, and caring for any stray animal that crossed her path.

Barb delighted in the Christmas season. She would prepare projects and games for her family Christmas getaway and she never failed to supply a variety of Christmas treats including several types of fudge and her famous peanut butter balls. Her love for both her family and cooking was evident in the green book, a cookbook that Barb put together containing treasured recipes and family pictures, histories and stories.

Barb was also extremely fond of going on adventures. Whether it was visiting Freedom rocks with her husband, traveling with her daughter to Ireland, San Francisco, Key West, or Cape Cod, or taking her nieces, nephews and grandchildren on assorted trips, Barb was always up for new experiences.   

Barb lost her courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, October 6, 2016.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband Jack Milner of Arthur, Iowa; children, Scott (Sandi) Milner of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Barbara (Kirk) Milner Murray of Mesquite, Texas; Steve Mace of Eugene, Oregon; Greg (Brenda) Mace of Kiron, Iowa; Chris (Jerri) Mace of Sioux City, Iowa; Tomi (Joel) Germar of Northglenn, Colorado; thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren with another on the way; brothers Keith (Deb) Fineran, Kenneth (Sandie) Fineran, Bob (Leah) Fineran, Randy (Pippa) Fineran; sisters Sandi Grote and Carolyn (Stan) Mortensen; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Barb was preceded in death by parents, Emmett and Catherine; brothers, Jim and John Fineran; husband Tom Germar; and sister, Lois Fineran.  

Memorial donations in Barb’s honor will be contributed to the oncology departments of Mercy Medical Center Sioux City and Buena Vista Hospital Storm Lake.