Jenna Lea Vathauer, age 42 of Barnes, passed away Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the Hanover Hospital.
She was born on June 1, 1984, in Emporia, the daughter of John Clyde and Catherine Kay (Smith) Pritchard.
On October 6, 2007, she married Daniel Jacob Vathauer. He survives of the home.
When Daniel and Jenna met, she was a nurse and in the years following, she became a farm wife and Daniel’s partner in maintaining the kid’s and farm activities. She attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Waterville and served as a volunteer fire firefighter and treasurer for the Barnes Rural Fire Department.
Jenna was a remarkable woman, known for her warm heart and generosity. She found joy in the simple pleasures of life, whether she was antiquing, cooking delicious meals for friends and family, smoking meats such as ribs and pork butts. Jenna had a special knack for decorating her home for the holidays and special occasions, creating an environment filled with warmth and cheer. As an outdoorsy soul, she loved to drive country roads, pick wildflowers, and enjoy nature while camping and fishing. Jenna was a giver at heart who never said “no.”
In addition to her husband, Daniel Vathauer, she is survived by three children, Jacob, Jaci and Arlo Vathauer of Barnes; her parents, John and Catherine Pritchard of Council Grove; her twin brother, Jessie Pritchard of Springfield, Tennessee; one sister, Rinda Stecher and husband Tony of Council Grove; one grandmother, Donna Smith of Council Grove; two sisters-in-law, Stacy Vermetten and husband Mike of Waterville and Jen Einspahr and husband Mike of Crystal River, Florida; one brother-in-law, Jerod Vathauer and wife Jessica of Murietta, California; her mother-in-law, Luann Thomson and husband Wayne of Waterville; her father-in-law, Bob Vathauer and wife Libby of Manhattan; two step brothers-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Wednesday August 19, 2026, at the Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in Waterville, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 pm.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Waterville. Burial will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery. There will be a lunch served at the Barnes Firehouse following the graveside service.
Memorials may be made to the Barnes Rural Fire Department or Valley Heights High School Softball and Baseball Programs. Contributions may be left in care of the Christie- Anderes Funeral Home, PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.apfunerals.com.