Knowles honored at funeral directors' event

FORT MADISON - Kendra Knowles, funeral director with Barr Memorial Chapel, Fort Madison, was honored at the Presidential Banquet of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association (IFDA) on April 16, 2024 with a Milestone Achievement Award for her 20 years as a licensed funeral director in Iowa.  In 1998, she received her Associate in Applied Science Degree in Mortuary Science at Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, Illinois.  She went on to obtain her Illinois license and then in 2004, with the help of Thomas Barr as her preceptor, she obtained her Iowa license.
Also honored during the banquet were the surviving funeral director volunteers of the United Flight 232, that crashed 35 years ago at Sioux City, Iowa.  Local deceased funeral director, James Barr, was one of the 125 funeral directors that volunteered his time for the care of the 111 deceased souls.
Deanna Barr attended the IFDA convention April 16 - 18, 2024 in Altoona, Iowa.  The theme of the 144th Annual IFDA convention was “Passport to Progress.”  
Deanna shared, “As funeral professionals, what we do matters, and attending the convention is a way to refuel and learn more from others in funeral service.” 
She attended several of the offered sessions, including: Embalming in Today’s World; Iowa Laws and Rules; Mass Casualties and Affects on Funeral Professionals; Family Life and the Prep Room; and the annual IFDA meeting. 
The Premier Midwest Funeral Service Expo was held during the convention.  Deanna also attended a Service of Remembrance event honoring members and their families who died in the past year, which included her husband, Thomas Barr.  The mission of IFDA is to promote and support funeral service excellence, and its vision is to provide trusted expertise to families in their times of need.