Barbara Jean Wilson

Barbara Jean (Croes) Wilson was born on August 13, 1944, to Howard Gerald and Mary Josephine (Lind) Croes in Fargo, North Dakota. She went to be with the Lord on January 26, 2024. 

Throughout her early life, Barbara lived across the Midwest in Mason City, Iowa, Joliet and New Lenox, Illinois, and Overland Park, Kansas, where she graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. She attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas and Kansas City Community College.

In 1962, while visiting the home of a college friend in Council Grove, she met the love of her life and later married Larry Gail Wilson on March 7, 1964, at First Lutheran Church in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. She lived the remainder of her life in Morris County Kansas.

Barbara was a farmer’s wife, homemaker, mother of two children, and was employed at the Morris County Treasurer's Office and as an Instructional Aide for USD #417. 

She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, searching for the perfect antique, genealogy, scrapbooking and flower gardening. Chocolate was her favorite food group.  Barbara was a member of the Calvary Lutheran Church, Calvary Lutheran Ladies Guild, Morris County Young Farm Wives, Kansas Young Farm Wives, Opportunity EHU Club, and Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Survivors include: her husband, Larry of 59 years, daughter Kristine Steenbock and son-in-law Curtis of Longford, Kansas, and son Jeff Wilson and daughter-in-law Karen of San Antonio, Texas. Five grandchildren, Andrea Willmann and husband Kyle of Clay Center, Kansas, Caleb Steenbock and wife Bailey of Longford, Kansas, Alexander Wilson of San Antonio, Texas, Tess Wilson of Tyler, Texas, and Bennet Wilson from Boston, Massachusetts. Three Great-Grandsons Drake and Chase Willmann of Clay Center, Kansas, and Braxton Steenbock of Longford, Kansas and a fourth great grandchild on the way. Sister Bette Croes of Overland Park, Kansas, and brother Charles Croes and sister-in-law Nancy of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents. 

A Celebration of Life service for Barbara will be held at 11:00am on Saturday February 17, 2024, at the Calvary Lutheran Church with Pastor Adam Reichart officiating. Her family will receive friends from 4:30-6:30pm Friday evening February 16th at the Calvary Lutheran Church. Her final resting place will be at Greenwood Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Calvary Lutheran Church or the Calvary Lutheran Ladies Guild.