Earles, Barbara J.

Barbara J. Earles, 55, of Iowa City, died Thursday, May 27, 2010 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after a courageous battle with melanoma.

Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Barb's life from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 2010 at The Kirkwood Room (next to Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service) in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at UIHC.

Barb donated her body to the University of Iowa. A Memorial Mass with burial of her remains will be at a later date.

Barb was born July 3, 1954 in Iowa City, the daughter of Kenneth and Alice Holdgrafer Kasper. She was a 1972 graduate of Regina High School and a 1974 graduate of the medical assistant program at Kirkwood Community College. On October 27, 1984 Barb married Mike Earles.

For a number of years Barb was employed in neonatal at UIHC with Dr. Ahrenberg, and later was employed by various medical offices and home health care agencies.

Barb loved to travel, garden, fish and read mystery novels. She enjoyed gourmet cooking.

The family extends their appreciation to Dr. “Mo” Milhelm and the staff at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center and to Dr. Ferial Tewfick and the staff at the Cancer Treatment Center of Iowa City for the personal care and love they gave, and a special thank you to supportive friends, especially Jane, Sally, Kathy and Cathy.

Barb is survived by her husband, Mike, and their two children, Caitlin “Caite” Earles and Adam Gerst of West Burlington and Nick Earles of Iowa City; a granddaughter. Addison Gerst; her mother. Alice Kasper of Iowa City; and her aunts, Wilma and Delma Kasper, of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her father, Kenny.

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