Barbara “Barb” Ann Gruetzmacher, age 65, of rural Oelwein, Iowa passed away Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. She was born March 20, 1959 the daughter of Willis “Bud” and Lenora (Hahn) Ross in Waterloo. Barb grew up in Fairbank and attended and graduated from Wapsie Valley Community Schools, Class of 1977. While in high school Barb played softball and had a moment of fame by hitting a grand slam homerun to send her team to the state playoffs. She was also well known for her incredibly fast typing skills. After high school she enrolled at Hawkeye Institute of Technology. Barb was a very driven person and held many different secretarial jobs over her working career. She may have been better described as an administrative assistant because Barb was much more than a secretary at each of her places of work. She started out working for Jim Gerres from there to Penn Mutual and then Peoples Clinic then to Principle Life Insurance and completed her working career at Oran Mutual Telephone Company retiring in April 2024.

Barb married Tracy Gruetzmacher September 12, 1987 at St. Peter Church in Westgate, Iowa. They made their home in rural Oelwein where they raised their son Michael. Barb and Tracy loved spending time at their campsite in Prairie du Chien. While there they enjoyed being with family and friends, fishing and boating on the Mississippi. Barb was an excellent cook but was known to make quite a mess in the process. Barb enjoyed playing cards and also the game of Cribbage, in 1976 she entered a Cribbage tournament at the Fairbank Legion and beat the local experts. She also enjoyed watching wildlife and was known for her many pictures of them from the window of their home. While still living at home she was often referred to as “Bud’s son” fixing mechanical things around the house. She was very true to her faith in God, reading the bible daily. She was a lifetime member of the Fairbank United Methodist Church. Barb played the organ there from 7th grade until her health would no longer allow her to and all the while she refused to accept money for doing it. Above all Barb loved her family and was always there for them, especially her grandchildren, Ayden and Legend. She will be missed by so many but none more than her family. Barb is survived by her husband Tracy, her son Michael and his wife Christy, her grandchildren; Ayden and Legend, one brother, Lonnie (Laura) Ross and one sister, Peggy (Steve) Niemann, her mother-in-law, Doris Gruetzmacher, a brother-in-law, Terry (Renae) Gruetzmacher, a sister-in-law Kim Kurt (significant other Jim) along with many nieces and nephews. Barb was preceded in death by her parents and her brother David and his wife Kyong Ross, her father-in-law, Bruce Gruetzmacher and brother-in-law, Todd Gruetzmacher.

Visitation: 3:00-7:00 PM Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Woods Funeral Home. One hour prior to funeral service at United Methodist Church on Friday, November 15 as well.

Funeral Service: 10:30 AM Friday, November 15, 2024 at United Methodist Church, Fairbank.

Interment: Fairbank Cemetery, Fairbank.

Lunch will be served at the Fairbank American Legion following the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be directed to the family for later designation.