COLESBURG, Iowa -- Charlene Herald (Welsh) Barnhart, 69, joined the Lord on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, at her home, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Colesburg United Methodist Church, with the Rev.  Allen Craft officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the church.

She was born on April 18, 1939, daughter of Herald B. and Ruth (Bush) Welsh.  She married George Barnhart on April 23,1955; he preceded her in death on May 13, 1994. They were blessed with five children. She married Steve Hyttinen on Feb. 11, 2006; he preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 2007.

Charlene enjoyed spending time with her family, having coffee with her friends, and writing news. She wrote news for the Edgewood Reminder for 25 years and had in recent years been writing for the Guttenberg Press, Dyersville Commercial, Manchester Press and the Clayton County Register.

She also was very interested in genealogy and helped many people research their family histories. She was a local contact for her knowledge of local history.

Charlene spent time helping the Friends of the Library, the United Methodist Women, was a local election official, was an active member of the United Methodist Church, served as secretary of the Brown Cemetery and was a very active member of the Colesburg community. Her home was always open to all and the coffee pot was always on.

Surviving are her children, Georgia (Craig) Kirby, of Colesburg, Cathy (Ray) Peterson, of Mederville, Bret (special friend, Doris Sommers) Barnhart, of Edgewood, Barbara (Dave) Hoff-man, of Dyersville, and Christal (Tom) Sullivan, of Greeley; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Collette Moser, of Dubuque; two sisters-in-law, Fay (Rich) Sampson, of Colesburg, and Coba Barnhart, of Manchester; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

~ source: Guttenburg Press, Guttenburg, Iowa and the Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa

~ submitted by Phyllis Peterson