Barbara Cannon Thuline, 93, passed away April 30, 2026, at the Summit, Bettendorf, Iowa. She was born at the family farmhouse outside of Rapatee, IL, to Carl C. Cannon and Mildred (Harden) Cannon, and was called "Bunky" by her three siblings. She attended grade school in one-room schoolhouses. Barbara graduated from Valley View High School and then attended Western Illinois University, where she earned a teaching certificate. After college, Barbara taught third grade at the R.O.V.A/Altona grade school, where she met her future husband, Denzil, while he was a school bus driver. Denzil and Barbara married on April 17, 1954. They lived in Altona, Illinois, for 60 years until Denzil‘s death in 2017, at which time she moved to Galesburg.

Family and friends were everything to Barbara. She was a loving daughter and mother to Dixie and Jack. Dixie benefited from her skill and patience as she taught her to sew. Summers were filled with family picnics, evening trips to Galva for ice cream, and listening to country and bluegrass music. In later years, Barbara and Denzil took up dancing. Being Grandma to Nathan and Lee, and Great Grandma to Jensen, brought her special joy. Her friends received many bouquets from her gorgeous flower garden, which attracted the butterflies that she loved. She also enjoyed baking. Pumpkin bread made using her recipe regularly graces her family’s tables today.

Her family and friends describe her as sweet, caring, and a good listener who was always there to help.

Those continuing to celebrate her life include her daughter, Dixie (Bill) Burress, son Jack Thuline, grandsons Nathan (Ashley) Burress and Lee (Allison Donnell) Burress, great-grandson, Jensen Burress, brother Clint Cannon, sisters-in-law Rosalie Rittenhouse and Danita Benson, many nieces and nephews, and many close friends.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Denzil, parents, Carl and Mildred Cannon, sister, Annabel Cannon, and her brother, Jim Cannon.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 17th at The Grove Community Church in Altona, Illinois. Visitation will be at 10:00 am. The service will begin at 11:00 am. Her cremains will be interred at Walnut Grove Cemetery following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, Barb suggested donations be made to Grove Community Church, the Altona Historical Society for the Library Hall or Ransom Public Library, all in Altona, Illinois.

Family and friends may share memories and condolences on her tribute page at www.mvcremation.com.