Barbara Jean Chenhall

Peace I leave with you... Barbara Jean (Goff) Chenhall, 77, died on November 19, 2010 after bravely fighting cancer. She was born September 23, 1933 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Melvin and Grace (Jefferson) Goff. They later settled in Scarsdale, New York. Barbara attended Edgemont School from kindergarten to 10th grade. She attended Scarsdale High School for 11th and 12 grades graduating in 1951. Barb's beauty caught the eye of the many neighborhood professional photographers. She was fortunate to grace the pages of a Saturday Evening Post-Ipana toothpaste ad, a Seventeen Magazine-Kodak ad and a Noxzema ad. Following high school, Barb worked as a bookkeeper for the Scarsdale National Bank to earn one year's worth of money for college expenses. In the fall of 1952, Barbara traveled to her father's alma mater and entered Iowa State College earning a degree in applied art from the home economics department. She was a member of the following honoraries: Phi Kappa Phi (academic), Delta Phi Delta (art) and Omicron Nu (Home Economics). Barb graduated in June 1956. By following her father to Iowa State she continued a tradition that now includes four generations. Before her college freshman classes began, she met Glen Chenhall. "It was love at first sight," claims Glen. On November 20, 1955, Barb and Glen were married at Collegiate Methodist Church in Ames. The newlyweds moved to Baltimore, Maryland for sixteen weeks of Glen's Army training and then traveled to Fort Ord, California where he would complete his two year enlistment. After living in Adel, Iowa for two years where Glen was a youth assistant for the Extension service, they moved to the Chenhall family farm south of Spencer in 1960. Barb enjoyed her years as a farm wife especially sowing oats and helping with baby pigs. She also enjoyed working with activities of her four children as a second grade Sunday school teacher and Sioux Indianettes 4-H leader for sixteen years. She was an active member of the United Methodist Women and Sioux Township Victory Club. Barb was very involved with the Clay County Fair from helping with township booth decorations and holiday doors to serving as chairman of the Textile, Arts and Crafts Department for 25 years. She also helped sew costumes for the Spencer Community Theater and volunteered at Arts on Grand. While working with Arts and Community "Gathering of Land and People" project, she found that her love of working with mosaics was a highlight of her life. She was able to spend time with many creative people designing and tessellating pieces of the project. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, knitting, sewing, quilting and playing with grandchildren. In recent years, Barb and Glen enjoyed trips to Alaska, the Netherlands, and Italy. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Glen; four children: Cynthia (Russell) Kress of Webb, Iowa; James (Marion) Chenhall of Coralville, Iowa; Ruth (John) Donovan of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Martha (Dr. Michael) Hall of Witchita, Kansas; seven grandchildren: Jacob (Sandra) Kress, Kenosha, Wisconsin; Nathan Kress, Urbandale, Iowa; Jeffrey Chenhall, University of Michigan; Tyler Chenhall, Iowa State University; Zachary and Megan Donovan; Benjamin Hall; sister Betty Kawar of Logan, Utah and brother Robert (Marguerite) Goff of Stanwood, Washington.; sisters'-in-law, Kathryn Rocker and Louise Frevert. Barb's positive attitude and creative talents will be missed by many in the community. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial fund contributions in Barb's name to the Spencer Regional Healthcare Foundation for hospital art.

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