Born October 14, 1924 in Elgin, Ill. to P. Gordon and Helen (Rippberger) Gamertsfelder, she was sister to Doris Holm and Monie Kinney. She graduated from Naperville High School, 1942, and North Central College (NCC), 1946. She was a missionary in Japan from 1950-1961 with former husband, William Barrett. In 1968, employed as Registrar at NCC, she married William Naumann, NCC professor of religion and together raised their blended family of 8 children. A born artist, she specialized in figure drawing as NCC adjunct professor of art and exhibited her artwok including her unique collection "Life is a Carousel". The Naumanns retired to Uplands Village, Tennessee in 2001.