Cover photo for Barbara Louise Mcgrath's Obituary

Barbara Louise Mcgrath

Barbara Louise Mcgrath

Barbara Louise McGrath of Boise, died Sunday, March 22, 2015 in a local care facility following an extended illness.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 6, at the Alden-Waggoner Chapel, Boise. There will be a viewing for one hour prior to the service. Rev. Christina M. Thompson of Whitney United Methodist Church will officiate. Cremation will follow the service and final inurnment will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.

Barbara was born on May 11, 1925 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of John Lawrence and Hazel Irene Brennecke. During her childhood she lived in Marshalltown, attending Marshalltown Senior High School. Upon graduation in 1944 she attended Cedar Falls, Iowa State Teachers College for her beginning teacher's education. Upon completion of the second year she wished to pursue this vocation, teaching in Sioux City, Iowa in Bryant Elementary School. She taught Kindergarten, which has been a joy to her, however for a change she was employed at C D Peacocks, a large jewelry store located in Chicago, Illinois. She sold sterling silver and holloware pieces. In this store she saw a number of famous people, Marian Anderson, the beautiful black singer with a gorgeous speaking voice, Judy Holiday, and Glen Ford who appeared with Rita Hayworth in the movie, "Gilda". This exciting part of Barbara's life was in the early 50's. The call to get the degree in teaching was uppermost in her mind and in 1951 she graduated in Elementary Education from Greeley, Colorado. She was hired as a second grade teacher at the Knapp Elementary school in Denver, Colorado.

In 1960 she was married to Don McGrath, and their daughter, Kelly Anne was born in Denver, Colorado. Don received a teaching assignment to be the director of Admissions at a small Quaker college in Wichita, Kansas, thereby moving to this midwestern city. Steven John McGrath was born there. The family lived in Wichita for seven years, then moved to Idaho Falls where Don was an Elementary teacher at Theresa Bunker. Moving to Boise in 1974, Barbara was a substitute teacher in many elementary schools, teaching Kindergarten through third grade inclusive. She then retired in 1991.

Barbara's interests were gardening, traveling, reading, and doing volunteer work where needed.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies, PEO-Chapter 80, a past member Eastern Star Chapter 65, Woman's Christian Club, Kings Daughters, and the retirerd Teachers Association.

She is survived by her daughter, Kelly Anne McGrath; and a son, Steve John McGrath, both of Boise; one sister, Eleanor Rose Evans Of Salt Lake City, Utah; and several nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her husband Don McGrath, and a sister, Edith Virginia Reisser of Orinda, Ca.
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