Barbara A. 'Barb' Griffith

BARBARA A. "BARB" GRIFFITH

Iowa City

Barbara A. "Barb" Griffith passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2020, at her home in Iowa City from complications of heart failure, aneurysm and lung disease.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Monday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City. In accordance with Barb's wishes, her body is with the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program, supporting scientific research.

In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or the CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank in Iowa City.

Born Thursday, Nov. 24, 1938, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Lewis "Ozzie" and Berniece "Bernie" (Helmer) Bissell, Barb grew up in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City and graduated from St. Mary's High School.

She attended the UI business school and worked as executive secretary for the Hayek and Hayek law firm. Barb loved the barn paintings of Marjorie Hayek and has a treasured collection of them.

Barbara married Donald Griffith in a small ceremony in 1971 and they lived for many years in Decorah, Iowa, on the bluffs of the Mississippi. Don then taught in the Muscatine School System and Barb worked at Monsanto in Muscatine, Iowa, as an executive secretary for 30-odd years. Barb and Don loved their Moscow country home and loved traveling to Hawkeye games. Barb cared for Don before he died at their home in 2001, and she retired in 2005.

Barb LOVED the Iowa Hawkeyes and the old-fashioned Herky (not the new Tiger Hawk). Barb followed sports with a passion and kept a list of Iowa football players who are now pros. Her favorite players included George Kittle, Adrian Clayborn, Tristan Wirfs

- Hawks; and Aaron Rodgers (Go Pack!); but Patrick Mahomes (not a Hawk) is her favorite.

Barb's other passion was classical music, specifically the Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera broadcasts. She gave generations of our family a love of beautiful classical music and introduced us to a lifetime of listening, learning, and playing music.

Surviving are her brothers, Richard Bissell (Susan Flashman) of Mount Rainier, Md., Steve Bissell (Julie) of Converse, Texas, and Douglas Bissell of Iowa City, Iowa; and a gaggle of nieces and nephews.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don Griffith; brother, Ted Bissell; sister, Paula Bissell; and brother-in-law, Jose Luis Mendoza-Loredo of Iowa City.

Thoughts may be shared with the family at www.lensingfuneral.com