Barbara Joyce McDonough was born on September 8, 1945, to Glenn and Almira (Nieman) McDonough in Grinnell, Iowa.

Barbara grew up northeast of Grinnell, where she attended a country elementary school and was a graduate of Grinnell-Newburg High School in 1963. She continued her education and graduated from the American Academy of Beauty in 1964 and the College of Automation in Kansas City in 1968.

On August 23, 1968, she was united in marriage to Arlyn Van Zante in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grinnell. To this union they were blessed with three children: Eric, Tad and Melinda.

Barbara was a farm wife, mom, a hairdresser for a few years, and helped with the harvest. In her spare time, she enjoyed photography especially portraits, nature and her grandchildren. She also worked on family genealogy for decades.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Arlyn and their family:

Eric and Tari Van Zante

Daniel

Neil, Jaxon

Nichole

Harley

Jamin

Tad Van Zante and his fiancé Lydia

Miranda

Maliyah

Madalyn

Melinda and Kent Vander Velden

Liam

She is also survived by her siblings Howard McDonough of Grinnell and Carolyn Hildreth of Ankeny.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Glenn and Almira McDonough, parents-in-law Wilbur and Harriet Van Zante, her twin brother Byron, brother-in-law Tom Hildreth and sister-in-law Sue McDonough.

Memorials may be given to Iowa Lions Eye Bank.