Barbara Rose Sturms

BARBARA ROSE STURMS

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Barbara Rose Sturms, 88, passed away on February 23, 2026, at Trinity Rock Island, with her children by her side.

Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Wesley United Methodist Church. Pastor Kayla Lange-Carney will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. The Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or to the Jim and Barb Sturms’ Memorial Scholarship Fund Endowment at https://cfgm.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3607 Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Barb was born on December 4, 1937, in Boone, Iowa, the daughter of Lawrence ‘Larry’ and Josephine ‘Jo’ Eckley Beckett. She married Jim Sturms on June 11, 1960, in Nashua, Iowa at the Little Brown Church in the Vale.

Barb graduated from Boone High School then went to Central College in Pella and earned her Elementary Education degree. She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church. Barb enjoyed all her social groups, going to the Y, and being with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She lovingly supported her husband, Jim, through his 42 year YMCA career and was deeply devoted to caring for him during their 63-years of marriage.

Barb is survived by her children, Jay (Deb Handel) Sturms, Kyle Sturms, and Becky (Joel) Wichers; grandchildren, Christine, Curtis, Kayla, Jenna, Drake, Drew, and Luke; great grandchildren, Camden, Weston, Josephine, Drayton, Kaydence, Rhett, and Amelia; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim; brothers, Jerry and Brad Beckett; sister, Bev Turner; and daughter-in-law, Joani Sturms.

Barb’s family would like to express their gratitude to the entire staff at Pearl City Place of Muscatine for their compassion and the many friends who continued to visit and stayed connected with her. Her life was rooted in a steadfast faith in God, which gave her strength, grace, and peace.

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