Barbara Lou Burnham

Barbara Burnham passed from this life on October 13, 2026 at the age of 89 at Goldfinch Estates Memory Care in Fairmont, Minnesota. Visitation will be on Thursday, October 22, 2026 from 5-7 PM at Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman and one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 23, 2026 at 11 AM at the Church of Christ in Truman with Pastor Allen Burnham and Pastor Merrill Davis officiating. Burial will be at Horicon Cemetery.

Barbara Lou (Mason) Burnham, the daughter of Mary and Claude Mason, was born on March 25, 1937, in Hartley, Iowa. She accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at the age of 16. She walked bean fields and did baby sitting during her teen years. Barbara received her education in the Sutherland, IA and Calumet, IA schools. She also attended three years at Minnesota Bible College in Minneapolis. At college, she worked in a café as a waitress. She also worked as the librarian at Minnesota Bible College.

Barbara was married to Allen Burnham on June 8th, 1958. To this union two children were born, Rusty and Ronda. As a minister’s wife, she did a lot of things connected with church work. Barbara taught Vacation Bible School. In fact, when she was expecting their second child, the baby decided to come a month early, so Barbara had to give up teaching VBS. She also taught Sunday School, led the Junior Youth group and led the Junior Youth choir. After their children were able to get along without her, Barbara went to work for an investment firm for 13 years.

She loved to cook and bake. She decorated cakes which she thoroughly enjoyed and the grandchildren thought they were great. Barbara also enjoyed singing and birdwatching.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Allen; children, Rusty (Debbie) Burnham and Ronda (Mike) Gerhardt; nine grandchildren, Amanda (Matt) Peterson, Sarah (Wayne) Huigens, Jacob (Becky) Burnham, Joshua (Danielle) Burnham, Katie (Kaleb) Meade, Melody Schott, Rebecca Perez, Robert (Molly) Gerhardt, Ross Gerhardt; and sixteen great grandchildren.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents and three sisters.