Barbara Dinnen, 67, of Urbandale died April 3, 2020, after a 4-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. Memorial services will be held when pandemic restrictions have passed.
Memorials can be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 41005, Des Moines, 50311.
Barbara was born Feb. 23, 1953, in Iowa City, to Waldo and Ruth (nee Derby) Elder. She graduated from Wilton High School in 1971 and studied at Drake University. She married Steve Dinnen in September 1975, in Wilton.
Barbara attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. After graduation, she was appointed to Trinity United Methodist Church in Des Moines, where she served for more than a decade, also serving the Las Americas faith community based out of Trinity.
Barbara was an activist of immigrant and women’s rights. She led faith-based health care missions to El Salvador, Guatemala and Cuba. She was a former board member of Habitat for Humanity and Sixth Avenue Corridor. She enjoyed writing letters to family and friends and cutting her husband’s hair for 46 years.
She is survived by her husband; daughters Audrey Walters of Indianapolis, and Elizabeth Dinnen of Colorado, son Patrick Dinnen of Chicago; sisters Christa Elder of Indianapolis, and Judy (Bill) Boorn of Perry; brother Jack (Becky) Elder of Benecia, California; four grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
