Laura Jeanne Tranbarger passed away peacefully on Friday, April 15, 2022 in Chico, California. "Jeanne" was born January 6, 1928 to Clarence and Estella Keefer in Marshalltown, Iowa. She grew up, along with two sisters, on a farm near Conrad, Iowa. Iowa farms in those days were diversified with animals as well as row crops of corn and soybeans. Jeanne attended school in a one room school house and may have walked a quarter mile down a snow covered lane to catch the school bus. She loved it all.


In 1945, at age 17, Jeanne went off to college at Iowa Wesleyan. That summer she came home to Conrad and met Richard (Dick) Tranbarger, a Navy man home from the war. They both enjoyed dancing, fell in love, and married 6 weeks later on September 1, 1946.


The newlyweds moved to Southern California where Dick was enrolled at USC. Jeanne worked in a doctor's office until her first of 3 children was born in 1949. Her family became her number one joy and commitment. Jeanne and Dick lived in Pico Rivera, Whittier, and Irvine in Southern California, before retiring to Red Bluff, CA in 1985 to be closer to family.


Jeanne is survived by her 3 children, Tom (Becky) Tranbarger, Nancy (Linn) Hanson, and Jana Tranbarger; and grandchildren, Brian (Erin) and Todd Tranbarger, Sara (Scott) Seus and Claire (Jeremy) McLean, and Ryan Lofswold. She also had 6 great grandchildren.


Jeanne was preceded in death by her life-long love, Dick, after 53 years of marriage; sisters, Doris Davis and Marilyn Kell; grandson, Andrew Tranbarger; and infant son Brian Richard Tranbarger. She was loved by her family, and we will forever have fond memories of her.


A family graveside service was held at Oak Hill Cemetery, Friday, April 29, 2022.