Barbara Ann Witthaus passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 21, 2016 at Stonebridge Nursing in Maryland Heights, Missouri. She was 72 years old

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Barbara was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 17, 1944 to Raymond and Lena Witthaus (nee Palmisano), both of whom precede her in death. Raised alongside her brother Leroy with a colorful Italian background and as a Catholic, Barbara spent her whole life in the St. Louis metro areas including Arnold, Affton and O’Fallon. She was a family oriented woman. She stayed at home to care for her children (and even some other honorary children from the neighborhood) and loved being with her family. She was always happiest when nurturing others or when hanging out with Maryann and Marie, her closest confidants since childhood. She had a strong spirit and a sense of humor that was unfailing. At one point in time she actually rearranged the furniture in her daughter’s house because she thought that it would be better that way. Barbara also loved the outdoors and spent many outings with her son fishing or hunting. She loved to camp with her family, and spent as much of her free time outside. She loved animals as well, especially her german shepherd. Although she liked to do some things that others would consider “manly”, Barbara was always a lady. She took pride in her appearance and even in the early stages of her illness she still put on her makeup everyday.

In her 50s, Barbara was stricken with early onset dementia/alzheimer’s which robbed her slowly of her memories and her ability to live on her own, doing the things that she loved. Her family took care of her as long as they could, but eventually, she had to go into full time care. She kept her spirit and sense of humor through most of the disease, and even when she was confused she could still come up with a snappy or witty answer to a question.

Barbara is survived by her loving children; Tom McNamara and Terri Ivie (nee Trent); her dear grandkids; Danny McNamara, Rachel Black, Kimberly Ivie, Thomas Ivie, Ariyonna Strebeck and Zackary Brown; and her great-grandkids Layla Black and Jack Black. Her daughter Tiffany Kuhlmeyer (in 2009) and brother Leroy Witthaus both preceded her in death.

Services: A church Memorial Celebration and Service is being planned for her. Please check back for further details. Flowers or donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/donate) or a charity of your choice are appreciated.