Barbara Jean Pierschbacher

Services for Barbara J. Pierschbacher, 83, of Des Moines will be held Friday, April 23, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. There will be a time of fellowship following the service at the funeral home before the burial at the Zion Cemetery near Williamson. Memorials are requested to the Animal Rescue League in her memory.
Barbara Jean (Thomas) Pierschbacher was born on February 9, 1938 in Chariton, Iowa to John and Madge (Farrell) Thomas. She attended Chariton schools and graduated from Chariton High School with the class of 1956.
Barbara began dating George “Bill” Pierschbacher at the age of 16. They were united in marriage on August 16, 1957. To this union, two daughters were born: Nancy Kay and Linda Ann.
Barbara worked for the phone company as a switch board operator for awhile, and then was employed with the State of Iowa as a clerical worker in the car dispatcher's office. From there, she worked for Farm Bureau until her children came along.
She was always very involved in her children's lives. She never missed a school concert, performance, or gymnastic meet. She absolutely loved being a grandma to her beautiful grandaughters, Brooke and Bailey. She was always there to help out with them, and they loved going to "Nana's" house.
Barbara did have an ornery/devilish side to her as George is well aware. She liked giving him a hard time to “keep him in line.”
Most of the time, Barbara was a home body, but she was always there for anyone who needed help. Whether it was running errands for the eldery neighbor across the street or taking loved ones to doctors appointments, you could always count on her. She also loved animals. It was nothing for her to take in stray animals and feed the wild ones.
Barbara will be missed by her husband, George “Bill”: daughters: Nancy Kay Rousselle and Linda Ann Pierschbacher; granddaughters: Brooke and Bailey Lukenbill; and special niece who helped keep an eye on her, Kristina Thomas.
Preceding Barbara in death were her parents, John and Madge; son-in-law, Keith Rousselle; and siblings: Donna Harmon, Betty DeLeon, and John Thomas.