I write this obituary in loving memory of Barbara Jean Kanen, born October 8, 1948. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 9, 2024. I know obituaries are usually short and to the point, but there is no way to quickly sum up this amazing woman’s 75+ years of life. She deserves to have books written about her, but this will have to do for now. Hopefully by the end of this you’ll feel like you know Barb a bit better.

Where do I start? Barbara, Barb, Barbie, GG, Grandma Um, Grandma Jean, she really was a woman of many names. Please call her whatever you want to call her, just never call her Babs.

Barbara was born in Washington, and she was raised in Humboldt County where she remained her whole life. Barbara was the second oldest of 4 sisters, whom she absolutely adored.

Barbara spent her early life on farms and ranches while her father, Lowell Kanen, worked as a ranch hand and caretaker. She occasionally could be found helping him, but more often up to no good. She used to tell us stories about teasing bulls with brooms, dangling from the barn rafters, laying in fields playing dead waiting for the vultures to come get her, harassing the cattle, and generally being up to no good. When she wasn’t helping her dad and causing trouble, she was helping her mother, Bobbie Kanen, out with the more domestic side of life. Barb loved cooking, gardening and sewing with her mom, but she had some other hobbies as well. Such as giving bouquets of poison oak, jumping out of a second story window (at the age of 2) and in general giving her mom a run for her money. Eventhough Barb was the second oldest of her siblings, she was typically the leader in trouble making, teasing boys, and getting into trouble.

Barbara attended Fortuna Junior Academy, until the 10th grade where she went to Rio Lindo Academy and Lodi Academy to complete her high-school education.

She had developed a knack for baking and spent several years working at the little bakery in Fortuna, called Better Bread Bakery, and wedding cakes were her favorite to make. She made dozens of wedding cakes over the years.

Barbara got married in 1969, the following year her oldest daughter, Robyn was born. In 1972 her youngest daughter, Janet was born. She took in her son, Tim several years later. Barbara divorced 16 years into her marriage and continued raising her children as a single mother. Barbara went on to raise her oldest granddaughter, also named Robyn, as well. She taught us all of the skills we needed to be strong independent women, and that it’s possible to make it on your own.

Barbara was a devout Seventh Day Adventist and truly lived her life for God. She dedicated over 20 years of her life to volunteering as the Dorcas director for the local SDA church community service center, helping the homeless, running food drives and toy drives, filling bellies with warm food and giving people a warm place to sleep. She had an incredible singing voice, she often enjoyed doing the special music for the church service, singing hymns and praising God. She was also one of the church florists for many years and provided the church with bouquet arrangements for church service. Barb really did dedicate her life to volunteering for the church in every shape and form.

Barb was also a Pathfinder leader for several years, teaching multiple badges and honors, including the sewing and birdwatching honor, organizing camping trips, backpacking trips, camporees and fundraiser events.

She also spent many years helping with the SDA Redwood Area Camp Meeting meal program, treasury and coordination.

Barbara was a professional yenta, jack of all trades, animal lover, and a force of nature on her own. She had an answer for just about everything, a solution and a method, followed by 3 alternate options if the first answer wasn’t right. Barb was fiercely independent, hard headed and opinionated. She had a deep love for the outdoors and spent many deer seasons hunting with a bow & arrow, camping, backpacking, and exploring.

Along with her love for the outdoors of course came a love for birdwatching, agate hunting, wildflower picking and weather watching. I have spent countless hours, and I mean countless, sitting in the car being as quiet as a little kid could be waiting for whatever fancy bird she was prowling for to show up. Does anyone else remember calling the Audubon hotline for local rare bird sightings? I sure do.

In the first part of spring we would go pick wildflowers and she taught us how to perfectly press them, identify them, and she taught us what they could be used for. We have spent hours at the beach sifting through sand, building sandcastles and comparing who got the biggest agate of the day. She loved chasing storms, sitting in the rain, and watching the surf get way too close for comfort.

Aside from her love of birds and flowers, Barbara found tons of joy in her hobbies, primarily sewing and embroidery, painting and making floral arrangements. With her love of sewing she also became titled the family seamstress. She spent many years quilting with the church ladies making baby blankets for families and church members in need, sewing clothes for her girls, making dresses and blouses for herself, and every year at Christmas her grandkids got a set of homemade PJs. Barb also loved music, you could find her humming along to Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, or a hymn almost constantly.

She shared her love of sewing with her daughters and granddaughters, she taught us to embroider and make our own clothes, she taught us how to fix, repair and maintain anything and everything, she taught us survival skills, hunting, cooking, baking, cleaning and above all she taught us patience.

Barbara lived life on her own terms, and nobody could change that. She was stubborn and loving, and was pretty sure she was always right. Most of the time, turns out, she was.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Lowell & Bobbie Kanen, and she leaves behind her two daughters, Janet, and Robyn, her adopted son, Tim, her granddaughters, Kitana and Robyn, and her great grandchildren, Marshall, Saphira and Christina. She preceded her 3 sisters and their husband’s in death, and far too many distant relatives to list. Of course we have to mention her precious dog Bella.

Barb absolutely adored her family, but her great grandchildren were really the light of her life in these recent years.

There’s a lot more I could say about Grandma Jean, no words can sum up her life, but I hope this gave you some insight into the kind of woman she was.

Barbara’s celebration of life will be held March 10, 2024 at 1 p.m. in the Fortuna Seventh Day Adventist Dining Room. Please join us in her memory.

In lieu of flowers please make a small donation to Fortuna Dorcas, or the SDA church flower fund.

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