Barbara J Bausch

Barbara was born on January 10, 1934 to parents Walter and Fraealice (nee Reed) Boller in Belmond, Iowa. She grew up in Goodell, Iowa, graduated from Goodell High School in 1951, and attended Iowa State University in Ames. She married Elmer Bausch in 1955. They had two daughters, Kris and Sandi, moved to Decatur, Illinois in 1964, and later divorced in 1974.

She was an excellent homemaker and cook, and a loving, nurturing mother to her girls while they were growing up. Even when working full-time, she made time to volunteer as a Girl Scout leader and sewed and knitted many of her daughters’ clothes and ballet costumes, as well as little outfits for their dolls. Her family was her pride and joy. When her grandchildren came along, she was a fun and energetic grandma known for always baking special cookies for the grandchildren for every holiday, having sleepovers with all four grandchildren when they were young, taking them to her pool, and going on nature walks through the trails at her complex. Being present for their activities and milestone events was very important to her. Her passions for reading, traveling, fashion and music greatly influenced them in their own careers and lives.

Barb had an interesting and fulfilling career in many different positions over the years. While still living in Decatur, she worked in the Photostat room at the Macon County Courthouse. In 1977 she began working as a Senior Quality Engineer for Baldwin Associates at the Clinton Nuclear Power Station in Clinton, Illinois, as well as Site Procurement & External Audits for Illinois Power Company at Clinton. For a brief time, she also worked for Stone & Webster Engineering at the Comanche Peak nuclear facility in Texas before returning to Illinois to settle near her family. Back in Illinois in 1987, she began working as a Quality Assurance Senior Engineer at ABB Impell Corporation in Lincolnshire which later became Vectra Technologies, and was later employed by Duke Engineering Services in Naperville.

When Barb was a member of Kingswood Church in Buffalo Grove, she enjoyed serving with a nursing home ministry where she was able to share her special talent of piano playing with the residents there. Years later she joined the Village Church of Barrington and was also involved with women’s Bible studies. One particular achievement that she was particularly proud of was obtaining her private pilot’s license back in the late 1970’s. She loved traveling and was blessed to be able to see so many beautiful and interesting places in the world. However, her deepest love was for Jesus and her family and friends. She always wanted to give thanks and express that the Lord was the One who deserved all the praise for the blessings in her life. She had a caring and generous spirit toward the people in her life and was always available to help however she could.

She is survived by her daughters, Kris (Mike) Walsh and Sandi (the late Kent) Durbin; grandchildren Michael K. Walsh, Brian Durbin (Jennifer Remis), and Leslie (Jake) Errington; great-grandchildren Peyton and Asher Errington, as well as many cousins. She was preceded in death by son-in-law Kent Durbin and grandsons Keith Alexander Durbin and David Elliott Walsh.

In accordance with her wishes, no funeral service will be held. After cremation, her ashes will be taken to be buried alongside her parents in her beloved hometown of Goodell, Iowa.