Barbara Ann Ostermueller, age 78, of Quincy, died on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in St. Vincent Nursing Home. She was born on April 13, 1939 in Quincy, the daughter of Giles and Florence (Schreacke) Varner. She married Jerry Ostermueller on December 26, 1957. He survives.

Barb was a display designer for State Street Store, Salem Church caretaker and St. Francis Catholic Church housekeeper and cook. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and was an affiliate of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Barb lived and loved to serve others. Her gracious and generous spirit touched so many people, including her family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and anyone she thought she could help in any way she could. Some of Barb’s favorite memories include working with the boys in her Cub Scout den, the girls in her Girl Scout troop, helping serve Saturday meals for the needy at Salem Church, helping her daughter with decorations at St. Francis Church, ushering at St. Francis Church and helping with children’s liturgy at St. Francis. Barb loved to work with crafts. She always had to have a new project in her busy hands. All of the places where she worked had nooks and corners filled with her handiwork. One of her favorite craft projects was making apple dolls and sewing quilted stuffed animals. Many a Saturday was spent at one of the local fall festivals helping others to learn her craft and sharing her enthusiasm for her creations. Barb loved escaping to her crafting building in her backyard or her special area in her basement where she spent hours on end enjoying painting rocks and wood projects and hand sewing, whistling all the while. When you went to Barb’s house, all you had to do to find her was to listen for her whistle. Barb loved to travel. She had fond memories of her trips to Daytona Beach, Myrtle Beach, Disneyworld, Chicago and a Caribbean cruise with her daughter, Pam. Barb enjoyed family gatherings at her house, catching up on everyone’s lives and enjoyed time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Barb had a special fondness for her “other” children, her cats, her dog, Laddie and the various birds and squirrels in her backyard.

In addition to her husband, Barb is also survived by her children: Pamela (James) Keller, Terry (Katie) Ostermueller, Larry (Laura) Ostermueller, Gary Ostermueller, Ann (Patrick) Freiburg, and a son-in-law Kent Bridgewater. Grandchildren: Roberta (Jeff) Ostermueller, Ryan (Emily) Keller, Lawrence Ostermueller, Lisa Ostermueller, Parker (Theresa) Freiburg, Lauren Freiburg, Kaleb Bridgewater, and Kristopher Bridgewater. Great-grandchildren: Erin Peters, Eric Courson, Pearce and Paxton Keller, and Emma Windmiller. Brother and sisters: Kay (Chuck) Cosgrove, Joan Dittmer, Arlene Creech and Wayne (Donna) Varner. One sister-in-law, Joyce Varner.

Barb was preceded in death by a daughter Christine Bridgewater, and a daughter Laura Ostermueller in infancy, a brother, Don Varner, two brothers-in-law, John Dittmer and Dan Creech.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and 11:00 a.m. in St. Francis Catholic Church. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Blessing Hospice or St. Francis Catholic Church.