Barbara Jean Gran Dahlby

Barbara Jean (Gran) Dahlby, 82, passed away peacefully, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, with family by her side at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Celebration of Life services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, at Silver Lake Lutheran Church with Kermit Singelstad officiating. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial of the cremains will take place at Silver Lake Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, is assisting the family with arrangements.
Barb was born to the late Edwin and Signe (Stephens) Gran on June 6, 1937, in Canton, S.D. When Barb was a small child, the family moved from South Dakota to a farm near Scarville. Ed farmed and raised livestock, while Signe raised Barb and her younger sister, Margaret (Susie). Signe was also the organist for Scarville Lutheran Church for many years.
She graduated in 1955 from Scarville High School. While in high school, she was an avid basketball fan, which she continued to be throughout her life. She played the clarinet and enjoyed many summers marching in the North Iowa Band Festival Parade in Mason City.
In January of 1957, she married Mark Weinkauf at Scarville Lutheran Church and together they had three children: Mike, Julie, and Sharon. Mark passed away in 1974.
Barb later married Phillip Dahlby in December of 1983 at Scarville Lutheran Church. Together they raised beef and dairy cattle on a farm near Silver Lake. Barb also worked at Fleetguard for many years and retired in 1999.
While living on the farm, Barb enjoyed spending her free time baking. There always seemed to be banana muffins around for her grandchildren to enjoy. Barb also spent time out in her garden or in the kitchen canning pickles, vegetables and jam. She loved to crochet and quilt, making many quilts for her loved ones over the years. Barb and her family enjoyed spending time together fishing. Phil and Barb took a trip shortly after retiring, to camp and fish in Glacier National Park. She often referenced this special memory with Phil over the years. Barb enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren.
Barb is survived by her children: Mike Weinkauf, Julie (Tim) Farris, and Sharon (Vern) Sylvara; 12 grandchildren: Robert, Jessica, Josh, Rocky, Nathan, Cole, Nikki, Dustin, Amber, Cassie, Samantha, and Ben; 27 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Susie; along with many more relatives and special friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Mark Weinkauf; second husband, Phillip Dahlby; and brother-in-law, Robert (Bob) Mcquire.