Barbara Nadene Jantzen Meredith, 89, passed away on March 6, 2021. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for 30 years. An exemplary army wife and mother, she followed her husband around the world as a loving homemaker, given to godly hospitality for family and friends.
Barbara was born on February 24th, 1932, to John Jantzen and Grace Warren Jantzen in Walla Walla, Washington. She moved to Seattle when she was twelve years old. She attended public schools in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington in 1954.
Barbara made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as a teenager when living in Seattle and over time, became the prototype Proverbs 31 woman. After graduation from University, she immediately moved to Wheaton, Illinois, during the fall of 1954, where she served Young Life in the Chicago area until her marriage.
On September 8, 1956, she married James M. Meredith in Wheaton, Illinois. She became an elegant, faithful army wife for the next 31 years, “retiring” with her husband in the Washington D.C. area in 1987. In 1991 she moved to Colorado Springs with her husband to help establish Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM) and assist her husband serving Young Life until 2001.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, James M. Meredith and four children James A, Scott, Craig and daughter, Cynthia Wesley, and 19 grandchildren and 6 great granddaughters. She is also survived by her older sister Janice, living in Lynwood, Washington.
A private funeral will be held by the family on Monday, March 15, 2021, and burial will be in Pikes Peak National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held on a date to be determined (TBD) at the First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs.
Memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to Young Life, Post Office Box 520, Colorado Springs Colorado, 80901 or to Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM) 540 North Cascade Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.
Doug Clapp
26 Mar 2021Jim, Dianne and I really miss our Sunday-after-church lunch with our class and now we’ve lost another one of our lunch bunch. Those times in our class and at lunch were really special and Barbara was a very important part of that. We miss you all and now we’ll miss her even more. Cherish the memories and the assurance of resurrection.