Barbara Louise Widlund-Rhinehart

      Barbara L. (Rausch) Widlund-Rhinehart, 87 years of age, entered her eternal life on April 29, 2020, at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines, Iowa. 

      Barbara was born September 21, 1932 in Urbana, Illinois, the daughter of Elizabeth and Pastor Alfred Rausch. Their family moved to the south during World War II where her parents ministered to the military at Fort Benning in Georgia and Fort Knox in Kentucky. They eventually returned to Iowa where Barbara spent the rest of her life. She always loved being a Pastor’s daughter and sharing her faith with her family. 

     Barbara was the true matriarch of the family. She was the most giving, loving, caring and supporting person to everyone. She was a loving mother to her three children Jim, Alan and Susan. In 1993, she married her husband Bob Rhinehart and they made their home in Waukee, Iowa. She was an avid Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes sports fan. She loved watching all of her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s sporting events. Family meant the world to Barbara. As the the eldest sister, she had a very loving bond with her sisters Janet and Peggy. She always looked forward to family gatherings such as the Rausch Family Reunion and the Annual Grandma Bee Christmas Party. She enjoyed traveling, reading, and participating in Red Hat Society events. Barbara spent her career as an Administrative Assistant, Insurance Agent and volunteering with her husband at Bidwell. 

     She will be greatly missed by her husband Bob Rhinehart, her children Jim (Barb) Widlund, Alan (Melody) Widlund, Susan (Steve) Gustafson; stepchildren Kim (Ed) Helland, Rob Rhinehart, Paula Baumeister, Tony (Amanda) Rhinehart, Jessica Hensley; 19 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

     Barbara is also survived by her sisters Janet (Garry) Schultz and Peggy (Fred) Adkins. 

     She was preceded in death by her parents and Virgil Widlund the father of her children.

     Due to COVID-19 Restrictions there will be no visitation. A graveside service will be held, Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Rausch Technology Center at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa or Bidwell Riverside Center in Des Moines, Iowa.