Eckert, was born September 20, 1927, to Theodora (Dora) Zimmerman and John Christian Eckert in
Council Bluffs, Iowa. She was the second of four children. They lived on Harrison Street in Council Bluffs
throughout The Great Depression, moving to 55 th Street in Omaha when Barbara was 10.
Barbara graduated from Benson High School and attended Elmhurst College in Illinois. She completed
her bachelor’s degree at Omaha University (now UNO) and during college served as Honored Queen of
Job’s Daughters. Upon graduating, she became an elementary school teacher, and her fondest teaching
memories were of her 5 th grade students at Rosewater School on south 13 th Street in Omaha. She also
spent one year teaching at Highlands Elementary in Prairie Village, Kansas, before marrying Herbert
Egerer.
Barbara and Herbert met through a church singles group and were married on August 18, 1962 at St.
John’s United Church of Christ in Council Bluffs. They raised two daughters, Jennifer and Sarah, in
Elkhorn. Barbara was very involved with St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church as well as her P.E.O. chapter,
Assistance League and Omaha Young Matrons. Barbara loved playing bridge and volunteering in the
community. In her earlier years, she played piano and violin and was an avid bowler. Barbara also loved
traveling and fulfilled her dreams of seeing the Egyptian pyramids and the fjords of Norway. She visited
Colombia and Syria when Sarah was living in those countries.
In 2012, she moved to the Kansas City area to be closer to Jennifer. Because of her kind and easy-going
nature, Barbara developed close friendships at Claridge Court retirement community in Prairie Village.
Her final years were very happy ones, playing bridge weekly, attending her new church Lutheran Church
of the Resurrection and spending time with friends and family.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Herbert, parents Dora and John Eckert and brother John
C. Eckert, Jr. She is survived by her children Jennifer Wampler (Bryan) and Sarah Egerer (Brad Adams);
grandchildren Grace and Hope Wampler and Orgil Adams; her sister Elizabeth Goodwin; brother George
Eckert; and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of the Claridge Court health center for their compassion
and exceptional care. A memorial reception will take place on Thursday, February 27, from 3:00-4:30
p.m., in the rotunda of Claridge Court, 8101 Mission Road, Prairie Village. The graveside service will be
Saturday, February 29, at 1:30 pm at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, 2300 S. 78 th Street, Omaha. In
lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Omaha, Lutheran Church of
the Resurrection in Prairie Village, JDRF or Shriners Hospitals for Children.
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