Obituaries : Barbara Jean Kaplan

Barbara Jean Kaplan, 71, died peacefully Friday, September 20, 2019 at the Vinton Lutheran Home of cancer.

A celebration of Barb’s life will be held at a later date with inurnment at Maplewood Cemetery.

Barbara was born June 27, 1948 in Vinton, the daughter of William and Doris Walters Wutzke. She was raised in Vinton and graduated from Vinton School System. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Vinton. Barbara enjoyed cooking, singing and writing poetry but her favorite activity was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a factory worker by profession, working at Frito Lay and Procter and Gamble in Iowa before retiring.

Barbara is survived by her children, Tracy Kirk (Chad Tharp), Vinton, Troy Kaplan (Nathan Rivas), Seattle, WA, Tiyada Kaplan, Iowa City and Wayne Kaplan, Shellsburg; eight grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; brothers, Bruce (Jeanette) Wutzke, Marion and Randy (Kathy) Olson, Washington, IA; several nieces and nephews and special niece, Teresa Wutzke.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandmother, Blanche Steinmetz, daughter, Denice Kaplan and brothers, Wayne and Dwayne Wutzke.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Barbara and her family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.