Katharina Lunz Barnum passed away at home in Nampa, ID on July 4, 2014 of natural causes.  She was born in Bamberg, Germany in 1934. Life for a child was very hard in wartime Germany. She had a sister, Anni, and two brothers, Benno and Hans. All of them have preceded her in death.  In 1951, Katharina met an American soldier, Ralph Barnum, who had been a cowboy in Nebraska. They married in 1954, and after Ralph’s discharge from the Army, they moved to Nebraska in 1956. After a series of moves due to Ralph’s job at Armour Meat Packing, the family, which now included four children, moved to Canyon County, ID in 1970.  

Katharina worked briefly at Carnation and Birds Eye, and she was a loving wife, mother and homemaker during her life. She loved gardening, dancing, and traveling.  She and Ralph took their camper to many states and on outings with the Good Sam Club. They traveled on cruise ships several times to the Caribbean Sea, Alaska, Europe and the Panama Canal.

Katharina liked going to the Caldwell and Nampa Senior Centers. She enjoyed the meals and fellowship at both places. She had lots of fun playing bingo there. She was a volunteer at the Caldwell Senior Center.

She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Nampa, and had strong faith in God.

Katharina is survived by her husband, Ralph, her four children Rosaline Cisek, Larry Barnum, Barbara Edmondson and Patricia Linkhart. They all live in Idaho. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A viewing for family and friends will be held at the Alsip and Persons Funeral Home in Nampa on Friday, July 11 from 5-7pm.  Funeral services will be held at the First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Lake Lowell Ave., Nampa on Saturday, July 12, at 10:00am.


Katharina Lunz Barnum passed away at home in Nampa, ID on July 4, 2014 of natural causes.  She was born in Bamberg, Germany in 1934. Life for a child was very hard in wartime Germany. She had a sister, Anni, and two brothers, Benno and Hans. All of them have preceded her in death.  In 1951, Katharina met an American soldier, Ralph Barnum, who had been a cowboy in Nebraska. They married in 1954, and after Ralph’s discharge from the Army, they moved to Nebraska in 1956. After a series of moves due to Ralph’s job at Armour Meat Packing, the family, which now included four children, moved to Canyon County, ID in 1970.  

Katharina worked briefly at Carnation and Birds Eye, and she was a loving wife, mother and homemaker during her life. She loved gardening, dancing, and traveling.  She and Ralph took their camper to many states and on outings with the Good Sam Club. They traveled on cruise ships several times to the Caribbean Sea, Alaska, Europe and the Panama Canal.

Katharina liked going to the Caldwell and Nampa Senior Centers. She enjoyed the meals and fellowship at both places. She had lots of fun playing bingo there. She was a volunteer at the Caldwell Senior Center.

She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Nampa, and had strong faith in God.

Katharina is survived by her husband, Ralph, her four children Rosaline Cisek, Larry Barnum, Barbara Edmondson and Patricia Linkhart. They all live in Idaho. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A viewing for family and friends will be held at the Alsip and Persons Funeral Chapel in Nampa on Friday, July 11 from 5-7pm.  Funeral services will be held at the First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Lake Lowell Ave., Nampa on Saturday, July 12, at 10:00am.