Barbara Jo Haupt

Barbara Jo Haupt left this Earth to rejoice in Heaven with her beloved Jesus Christ, on February 2, 2025. She accepted Jesus as her Lord in September 1976, changing the course of events in her life miraculously, bringing her peace, joy, and love.

Barbara was born July 30, 1934 in St. Louis, MO to Carl Harold and Ruth “Hulse” Nelson. Her parents met at Culver-Stockton College in 1922, married in 1925 in Kansas City, MO, and moved to St. Louis in 1930 where Ruth played the organ and piano on KMOX radio and in the Mayfair Hotel. Barbara graduated from Cleveland High School in St. Louis in 1952, then pursued music education at Culver-Stockton College, where she was involved in music, drama, and Chi Omega Sorority. Here she met her first husband John A. “Jack” Walz, and they married in 1955. They lived all over the Midwest as he coached baseball and basketball, then later became a Superintendent of schools in Elsberry & Troy, MO. Their daughter Susan Kay was born in January 1961. Barbara was always heavily involved in her love of painting, performing on stage, singing in church (or anywhere she could), and at the farm with her horses. Here she taught Susie how to ride, take care of, and show horses. In 1979, she married William Drews, of Canton, MO, but her late husband (and high school sweetheart) William A. “Bill” Haupt, of St. Louis, MO were able to rekindle their romance and married in October 1994 in Key West, FL. With her music education degree, Barbara became a music teacher in the state of Missouri and in Florida, where she and Bill later retired.

Of most importance in Barbara’s life, her family began to grow. In 1983 and 1986, Barbara became a grandmother to her granddaughters, Adina and Stephanie, where she was “given” a new name, Baba! The girls were spoiled immensely over the years, with trips to Disney, road trips all over the eastern and southern states, boating with Grandpa Bill & Baba, parties because why not, ice cream ALL the time, horse riding, and much more. They would even get to help set up her classrooms in the summer, Barbara being one reason Adina is a teacher to this day! Through marriages, Barbara also grew up with her stepsister Barbara “Little B” in Milwaukee, WI. She also gained step-children and step-grandchildren along the way, while none of them actually held that “step” title to her.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents & step-father, Carl Nelson and Fred & Ruth “Hulse-Nelson” Rauter, her brother Robert “Hunter” Nelson, her only child: daughter Susan Kay Hardee, & son in law , Robert D. Hardee, in addition to her beloved husband, William A. Haupt.

Barbara is survived by her two granddaughters, Adina (Steven) Cambron and Stephanie (Jason) Carpenter, both of Lee’s Summit, MO; and her step-grandsons Adam (Brandy) Hardee and Patrick T. T. Hardee, both of Phenix City, AL. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Trinity & Avery Cambron and Gwen & Violet Carpenter, all from Lee’s Summit, MO, Brandon & Samantha Hardee, of Phenix City, AL, and Billie Jean Haupt, of St. Louis, MO. She is also survived by her step-sister Barbara “Little B” Rauter-Hardman, of Thomasville, GA; and cousins Rita Jane Jackson, of Herrin, IL, and Louann (Rick) Lawrence, of St. Charles, MO; as well as many others that loved her dearly. Barbara was deeply adored and will be missed greatly by all who knew her, but especially from her granddaughters in her last years, Adina and Stephanie.

A small memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church - Lees Summit, 2 NE Douglas St. Lees Summit, MO 64081 at a later date. Dr. Blake McKinney will officiate. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Barbara’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.