Joan TenBarge

Joan K. (Folsom) TenBarge 88, died June 24, 2024, at NMC Health in Newton, Kansas. She was born February 15, 1936, in Great Bend, Kansas to George and Frances (Plotner) Folsom. On February 5, 1955, she married George Kleck and he preceded her in death. She later married LeRoy TenBarge on June 5, 1999 and he also preceded her in death.

During her high school years, she was a 3-year varsity cheerleader, Outstanding Senior Girl, attended Girls State and a member of the National Honor Society.

Her professional career consisted of being a telephone operator, an Administrative Assistant at Kansas Power and Light, working in Human Resources at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and a receptionist/scheduler at St. Joseph Clinic. She was also a distributor for School Book Fairs. 

Her faith and family were top priorities in her life. She was very involved in her children’s activities, which included attending sports and school activities, was a member of PTO, acted as a boy and girl scout leader and was a Sunday School teacher. She was musically talented, playing the piano and organ, autoharp, and harmonica. She sang in numerous choirs and played in a bluegrass band. Joan was a longtime active member of the Eastside United Methodist Church in Newton where she played the organ for many years. In her later years, she loved spending time with the “West Side Ladies” at Kansas Christian Home.

She is survived by son Rick (Cindy) Kleck and step son Matthew TenBarge; daughters Cheryl (Lonny) Rains; Cindy (Keith) Swonger; step daughters Karen Houseberg and Diane (Joey) Char; 2 sisters-in-law Shirley Folsom and Judy Folsom. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents and both husbands; grandson Jason Martin; brothers Wayne and Kenneth Folsom

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Eastside United Methodist Church in Newton with Pastor Steve Hysom presiding. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, June 28, 2024, at Petersen Funeral Home. The Family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Walton Cemetery in Walton, Kansas.

Memorials may be made to Eastside United Methodist Church or Kansas Christian Home and left in care of Petersen Funeral Home.