Barbara McMeekin

Barbara “Barb” McMeekin, age 86, of Laurel, Iowa, passed away peacefully on the evening of June 4, 2026 at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell, Iowa.

Barbara Elaine Brown was born December 11, 1939 in Marshalltown, Iowa. She was the daughter of Joe and Wilma (Greenhow) Brown. In her early years, Barb grew up in Marshalltown until moving to rural Laurel. She attended Laurel High School and was a graduate of the Class of 1957.

While in school, she met Thomas “Tom” McMeekin. They fell head over heels for one another and the high school sweethearts were united in marriage on August 1, 1958 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Barb and Tom moved to the family farm in rural Laurel. They had two children, Jeffrey and Michael. Barb worked for five years at KIOWA in Marshalltown before retiring to help out Tom and her family full time. Over the years, Barb created a legacy of love and filled a home with many memories and laughter.

Barb was heavily involved in the Laurel community. She was a longtime member of the Laurel United Methodist Church (Laurel Community Church), the United Methodist Woman, Laurel Fraus and the Laurel Community Chest. She volunteered at Toy’s for Tot’s sharing her special skills of shopping and wrapping gifts for children. She additionally volunteered time at the House of Compassion in Marshalltown frequently.

She loved fishing, playing cards and was known to be an avid and sometimes speed reader. She loved spending time with family and made sure to always be the host of large meals and attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events. Barb enjoyed traveling. Annually she and Tom made trips to Minnesota for anywhere between 2 days to a week, trips to Florida which meant visiting Disney World to ride her favorite ride It’s a Small World and soak up the Florida sun. Additionally, Barb was known to take frequent trips out to eat and make her way to the casino.

Those left to remember and cherish her memory are her son, Jeff McMeekin; three grandchildren, Jessi Murphy, John (Darilyn) McMeekin and Jenni Flowers and her two great-grandchildren, Andrew Murphy and Ryleigh Flowers.

She is rejoined in eternal life with her husband, Tom McMeekin; son, Michael McMeekin; granddaughter, Jill McMeekin; parents, Joe and Wilma Brown and one younger brother.

Funeral services for Barbara will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026 beginning at 10:00 A.M. at the Laurel Community Church. A visitation will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Barb’s name may be directed to the Laurel Community Church, House of Compassion or Salvation Army. For additional information or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.