Barbara Jean Swanson Fanslow

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Donations are being accepted on behalf of Barbara to the "Duane Irving Memorial Scholarship Fund" at Halleck Creek Ranch P.O. Box 159, Nicasio, California, 94946 // halleckcreekranch.org

Barbara Jean Swanson Fanslow, beloved mother of Geoffrey and twin daughters Annette and Andrea, passed away on January 22, 2021, at the age of 95.

She was born on July 28, 1925, in Wheaton, Illinois to Grace and Earl Swanson.  She was raised in Elmhurst, Illinois with her three younger siblings: Earl, Elizabeth, and Grace.  Barb graduated from Elmhurst College and moved to California in 1949 where she married George Fanslow, also from Elmhurst.

They moved to Novato, California in the mid-1950s and resided there for 20 years. They had children: George Geoffrey, and daughters Annette and Andrea.  Barb loved her 3 children and 20 total grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Geoffrey and his first wife Angelika had 4 children: Caroline, Rita, Ursula, and Stefan. Annette and former husband Joel Inglish had 3 daughters: Audra, Molly, and Juliana. Andrea and her at-the-time husband Lester Perry had 2 daughters: Amy and Jennifer. Other surviving family members are a sister Elizabeth McGinnity (“Sis”), cousins Judy Burke Robinson, Allen Burke, and Helen Dunbar. Barb is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Barb‘s working career took her to several secretarial positions: Swedish Cruise Lines in Chicago, McDonald Douglas Aviation in Los Angeles, and the Presbyterian Church on 5th Street in San Rafael. Music, however always held a special place in her heart and after learning the piano and organ in high school, she played on Sunday mornings at the Christian Science Church and the Congregational Church in Elmhurst, which paid for her college education. As an accomplished organist and pianist, with a love of J.S. Bach, Barb continued playing the organ after moving to Marin County at the First Congregational Church of San Rafael. She taught many kids in the community to play piano, sew and cook.  She volunteered at a local school in the special education classes.  She was director of the Pobble Gift Shop in Novato which sold items made by the handicapped.  Barb was involved with the local Peace Group of the UCC church in the ’80s.  She protested the nuclear proliferation in Livermore, was arrested, put on the FBI’s watchlist, and later wrote a collective book called, “Listen to my Heart Song”.

Upon retirement, Barb and George designed and built their solar home in Sebastopol, CA. They loved organic gardening and hiking the Sierra Nevada mountains together. Books, libraries, and learning were some of her happiest pastimes. Her love of learning extended to Japanese painting, calligraphy, copper and brass sculpting, mycology, astronomy, drawing, water coloring, silk painting, tailoring, and even braille. Barb will be remembered for all those things but mostly as a loving, accepting, and wonderful mother, grandmother, cousin, and friend. 

Barbara lived a full life loving her family, friends, and the community.  Always with a helping and loving hand to others.  Barb was a remarkable woman with so many qualities.  She spoke with love and intelligence, but most of all she demonstrated and walked with a tender and giving heart always! She leaves a legacy of life, love, and growth. Her spirit is within us and lives on through each of us.