Barbara Lou Malchow

Barbara was an amazing woman who lived life to its fullest. She has influenced many lives throughout her 92 years. When asked to describe Barbara, her friends and family used words like; loving wife, big heart, giving, mother to many, good Christian, always moving, helping everyone, caring for others, full of love and compassion, volunteering… the list of accolades is long.

In many ways, she has reached out to connect with and help others. You would think with her large growing family of over 40 people and many extended aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, that would have kept her busy. Oh, not Barbara! On top of helping her extended family, she worked part time jobs as teacher aids, school cafeteria manager and school bus aid with disabled children. Over the years she has volunteered endlessly at multiple churches, cub scouts, schools, PTAs, manager at Pine Senior center, AZ blood bank desk work and donated over 13 gallons, and sponsored several foreign exchange students from China and India.

In many ways, she was the classic family matriarch that constantly keeps in contact with and helps all family members and friends. As a devoted mother, she worked hard helping her children succeed in life and showed the patience of Job. Here kids came first and she allowed, snakes, mice, birds, cats and dogs to live in the house over the years. All it took, was for anyone to give her a call and you get a complete update on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, their spouses, relatives, friends from church or our old neighborhoods where we lived 50 years ago. She could keep all of this straight in her mind. She could remember who is related to who, that her 3rd cousin in Indiana is moving and has two kinds named Sue and Bill. Somehow, through most of her life, Barb kept it all straight.

She was also very giving. Guided by her religious faith Barbara always helped at any level. As a networker, if you had a problem or needed a hand, call Barbara and she probably knew somebody who’d knows somebody that can help you out. She would lend some money, or buy some needed medical supplies, if she had the money. She would find a place for someone to stay or give someone who can’t drive a lift to an appointment, or volunteer one of her children, grandchild or a friend to fix somebodies car, do some yard work, or drop something off for a person in need. She did an extensive work with Pastor Peter Samino and the Yaqui cultural center in Guadalupe, AZ helping to spread the word of God and meeting the material needs of the residents.

Barbara not only helped with material things but always worked to support a person’s spirituality and emotions. Along with her steady work on spreading the word of Jesus and prayers for those in need, she reached out to add joy to the lives of others. When she was physically able, she loved to go Clowning visiting hospitals and senior centers with her specially created character Lou La Belle the Clown which she improved upon over the years. The smiles it put on the faces of the children and adults was her payment. She made numerous crafts and baked goods that she would give to anyone that was going through a tough spot in life or to a friend that she wanted to thank for their support in a charity.

Her life was all about serving others and being there for anyone, always showing love, compassion, empathy and grace. To say she had a big heart is and understatement.

Barbara Malchow passed away on February 25, 2022. She was predeceased by her husband Floyd Malchow, and parents, Vilas Wilson Feasel and Golda Ruth (Cookson) Feasel.

Barbara was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on February 21, 1930. She attended two years of business college while working in the family insurance business. On September 6th, 1952 she married Floyd Lewis Malchow. Their first child, Kim, was born on August 1, 1953, followed by a second child, Rhonda, on January 19, 1956.

Their life took a big change in 1956 when Floyd took a new job in the “little town” of Scottsdale Arizona working for Motorola supporting their radio communications and space programs. In Arizona, they had three more children, Kevin, Rodney, and Darla, born December 23, 1956, November 18, 1958 and May 8, 1965. They flourished in AZ with 13 grandchildren and 20 (still counting) great grandchildren.

She has always practiced her Christian faith and was active in different denominations over the years where she felt the values as expressed in the Bible were practiced. This included the Presbyterian and Evangelical church in Tempe, and most recently she worshiped at Cornerstone Church in Mesa Arizona.

Family Tree:

Kim Malchow (son) - Mary Malchow (predeceased wife),

Children: Robin Toliver, Husband Chris Toliver, Children: Jayden, Brooklyn, Nathan, Zoey;

Paul Malchow.

Rhonda Malchow (Daughter)

Kevin Malchow (Son, predeceased) Wife Andrea Malchow,

Children: Jonathan, Wife Christen, Children: Leaun, Leyah.

Michael Malchow, wife Kaitlan

Gregg Malchow, son Gregg Winfree.

Rodney Malchow (Son), wife, Kate Huddleston,

Children: Forest Malchow, wife Natalie, Children: Madelina, Beauden

Ryan Malchow

Lisa Malchow (predeceased)

Darla Winfrey (Daughter), Husband Joel,

Children: Melissa Newton, Husband Robbie, Children: Carter, Ava, Chelsea;

Samantha Wilson, Husband Kreag, children: Brynnlea, Landon;

Joel Winfrey, wife Sarah, and dog Pluto;

Robert Winfrey, Wife Nohemi, Child: Violet

Tracey Sywarungsymun, Husband Steve, Children: Sebastian, Isabella, Malachi, Nicodemus, Arora, Seraphina.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavencarrtenney.com for the Malchow family.