Barbara Lee Schurrer, age 84 of Winter Springs, passed away Thursday, November 1, 2018. She was born in Highland Park Michigan on July 20, 1934 to Joseph John McCloskey, DC, and Irma Frances [Eggert] McCloskey.
Barbara was baptized in a Highland Park Episcopalian Church and she confirmed her faith at Messiah Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan in June 1948. She attended Hosmer Elementary School, Jackson Junior High School, and graduated from Detroit Southeastern High School in June 1952. Barbara attended Michigan State University (MSU) and received her Associate Degree in 1954. On January 10, 1953, she agreed to go on a “blind date” with Richard (“Dick”) Schurrer. Two weeks later Barbara and Dick began dating regularly. Barbara and Dick were married on September 10, 1955 at St. James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Barbara put her secretarial skills to work by obtaining a position with the professors of the College of Police Administration at MSU. Dick graduated from MSU in 1956. When he left for his first assignment as an officer in the Army they moved to Detroit, and Barbara lived with her parents. About five weeks later Barbara and their first child joined Dick at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After he completed his military duty they purchased a home in Pontiac, Michigan. At that time Barbara became a full time homemaker. Four years later they relocated to nearby Rochester, Michigan where they raised their children and lived for 22 years. Dick’s employment in the construction industry took them to a number of places in the USA. In 1981, they were transferred to Orlando, Florida, then later to San Francisco, California, and finally to the Washington, DC area, before retiring in Winter Springs, Florida 22 years ago. Each move caused Barbara to join “welcome wagon” type organizations and a church in order to become acquainted with people in the new locale.
Even before they had children, Barbara and Dick decided to educate their children in a Lutheran school. Their lives together have always been centered on the church. Barbara was involved in the church groups of the eight Lutheran churches that they have attended during and before their marriage. Barbara sang in the choirs of many of these congregations, served on church Altar Guilds, taught Vacation Bible School, and was a youth group counselor. At St. Luke’s she served on the new school building program, and has been making Baptismal Banners for over a decade.
Barbara became a good swimmer, and enjoyed playing board games and card games. She enjoyed quilting, crafts, solving crossword puzzles, loved animals of every kind, and consequently always had a dog. She loved going to the theatre to see musical plays. She enjoyed traveling throughout the USA when the children were young, and then various trips to Europe in recent years. The family has a summer cottage in Charlevoix, Michigan that the entire family enjoys.
Barbara is survived by her husband Richard of 63 years, and their 3 children: Pamela [Schurrer] Puskar (Larry), Jeffrey Schurrer (Nancy), and Patricia [Schurrer] Nolff (Jay); 7 grandchildren: David Puskar (Leah), Becky [Puskar] Stencel (Jeff), Jon Puskar (Melissa), Mary Beth [Schurrer] Meagher (Brandon), Victoria [Schurrer] Hasselbring (Luke), Bradley Nolff, and Jacob Nolff; and 5 great-grandchildren: Luke, Zachary, and Jacob Puskar, and Peter and James Stencel.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law Johanna Schurrer. Barbara’s parents, Joseph and Irma McCloskey, along with her only sibling, Ronald Eggert McCloskey are deceased.
Visitation is on Friday, November 16, 2018 from 5:00-9:00 PM at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Oviedo Chapel. A Memorial Service is at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 2021 W. State Rd. 426 Oviedo, Florida 32765. A light reception will follow. Interment will be at St. Luke’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish, you can make a contribution in Barbara’s name to one or more of the following charities:
• Multiple Sclerosis Association of America - 375 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
• Hospice of the Comforter - 605 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
• Concordia Seminary St. Louis - 801 Seminary Place, Saint Louis, MO 63105
Arrangements entrusted to Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Oviedo Chapel, 501 E. Mitchell Hammock Rd. Oviedo, Florida 32765 407-366-8999. Please view and sign the guestbook at www.baldwinfairchildoviedo.com
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