Barbara J. Then, 71, of Placid, Iowa, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025, at her home, surrounded by her family, after a short and courageous battle with glioblastoma.

Visitation for Barbara will be held from 3 to 8 p.m., Friday, May 9, 2025 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Peosta, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m.  Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 10th at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial for Barb will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Peosta, Iowa.   Burial will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Placid, Iowa.

She was born June 1, 1953 in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of James and Dorothy (Myers) Cotant.  She received her education in the Ss. Peter and Paul Schools in Sherrill.  She is a 1971 graduate of Hempstead High School in Dubuque.  She continued her education at the Dubuque Beauty Academy and worked as a beautician for several years.  She later worked at Ertl’s and Modernfold in Dyersville.  She also worked in the lunch program at Seton Catholic schools for five years.

On April 5, 1975 she was united in marriage to Ron Then at Ss. Peter and Paul in Sherrill.  The couple farmed on Johns Creek Road in rural Farley for many years.  In 1995, they moved to the Then family farm near Placid, where they continued farming and raised their four children, who were her pride and joy.

Barb was a very kind and loving wife, mother and grandmother, known for her great smile and contagious laughter.  She enjoyed going to lunch and shopping with her girls, and baking cookies for her son.   She was an exceptional cook, always making the best meals and her chocolate birthday cakes for the family.  Her favorite flower was the rose, so each of her daughters have Rose in their name.  She loved her dogs and cats throughout the years.

She was a member of St. John’s Parish in Placid, Iowa.

She is survived by her husband, Ron Then of Placid; their four children, Angela (Andy) Sadewasser of Peosta, Matthew (Ashlee) Then of Placid, Rosanne (Nick) Gaul of Epworth, and Abby (Adam) Gansen of Zwingle; nine grandchildren, Benjamin Sadewasser, Austin, Aaron and Collin Then, Dierks, Levi and Cole Gaul and Audrey and Hayley Gansen; two sisters, Doris (Mike) Kintzle and Judy (Bernie) Welter both of Dubuque; one sister-in-law, Sue Then and one brother-in-law, Gerald Then both of Cedar Rapids.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her father and mother-in-law, Henry and Loretta (Sauser) Then and three brothers-in-law, Richard H. Then, David “Eldee” Then and Kenneth R. Then.

An online video may be viewed and online condolences sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com

A Barbara J. Then memorial fund has been established.

The Then family would like to thank the University of Iowa Department of Neurology and a very special thanks to the Hospice of Dubuque, especially Amanda, Angelia and Jill for their exceptional care of Barb.