Barbara May (Wheeler) Mishler, 85, of Baxter Springs, died Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at Star Living Home Plus in Lawrence. Barbara was the only child to Glenna D. (McCorkle) of Waco, Mo. and John N. Wheeler of Baxter Springs.
Barbara attended grade school in California. She graduated from Riverton High School with the class of 1954. After graduation, she worked at the American National Bank in Baxter Springs where she first met Calvin Mishler, her future husband, when he came in to cash his weekly paycheck.
One day she was sitting in a booth at the lunch counter of Milo Chew Drug store with two children she was babysitting and Calvin happened to come into the store. He approached Barbara and offered to buy her and the children ice cream. That ice cream, unbeknownst to them, was the beginning of a 50-yearlong love affair the two would share. Calvin and Barbara were married October 29, 1955 in the Friends Church.
Calvin and Barbara spent their entire married life together in Baxter Springs raising three sons: Kenneth Calvin (Debbie) Mishler of Lawrence Kurtis John (Barbara) Mishler of Louisville, Ky. and the late Mark Lonzo (Debbie) Mishler of Princeton, Texas;.
If Barbara, best known as Granny, were to write this herself, she would certainly note her pride and joy, her seven grandchildren: Margaret (Maggie), Clifford, Keaton, Kelsi, Kara, Sydney and Sadie, along with her twelve (and counting) great-grandchildren. After the birth of her their first child, Barbara became a full-time homemaker, Cub Scout den mother, Sunday School teacher, room mother, PTA volunteer and more, adopting whatever skill or holding any role to fill the need of the day. She was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own clothes and, for a limited period of time, put together a dazzling array of leisure suits for her sons.
A love of reading followed her throughout her life and she spent many hours with her young family at the Johnson Public Library. She was outstanding in a collection of excellent Baxter-Moms that raised quite a crop of kids during the 60’s and 70’s.
For 50 years Barbara could be found spending most summers with her husband at the Little League Ballpark. Calvin coached and she tended to the needs of the concessions stand and children in the parking lot. For many summers she prepared hundreds of gallons of sno-cone syrup from thousands of pounds of sugar and packages of flavorings. This was particularly important during the times when Baxter hosted many of the regional and divisional tournaments.
Another important summer activity was the vegetable garden Barb and Calvin tended together, and while Calvin cultivated the garden, Barb canned the bounty. Pounds on pounds of fresh vegetables and countless quarts of canned green beans, pickles, okra, and tomatoes found their way onto the tables and into pantries of family and friends.
As her children were growing, Barbara operated a licensed daycare in her home, looking after the needs of two to six children. After her children were through grade school, she returned to work at the American National Bank where she worked in the loan department for 16 years. Later, she worked as a para-professional at Lincoln Elementary School in Baxter Springs. Barbara was an active member of the Lowell Friends Church, serving as the church treasurer for nearly four decades.
Barbara was preceded in death by her father, John Wheeler (1974), mother, Glenna Wheeler Cunningham (1998), husband, Calvin (2004), and son, Mark (2016).
Two years after the passing of her husband, Barbara moved to Louisville, Ky. to be close to Kurtis and his young family. She spent 10 years in Louisville where she was an active member of Southeast Christian Church. Barbara was just as comfortable in her new church home, where the Sunday worship attendance was over 10,000 as she was in her small country church where weekly attendance averaged less than 100. In both churches, she was active in numerous Bible studies, mission activities, and women’s groups.
Barbara returned to Kansas and moved to Lawrence in 2016. In 2017, Barbara suffered a stroke and moved to Star Living Home Plus, where she began receiving loving care until her death.
As can be seen, Barbara was a committed mother and homemaker for her family. She exemplified a servantsheart and boasted her relationship with the Lord throughout her life, even when she was at her weakest. Barbara was at her best when surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her home was always a place where her grandchildren loved to visit their Granny and Pa. Together, as a team, they left an undeniable mark on each of the lives of their grandchildren. Many will feel her physical absence but her spiritual presence will be with them for the remainder of their time on this earth. Barbara said to many that she was ready to go Home and now she is, with her beloved husband and eldest son.
The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 21 at the Lowell Friends Church until service time. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. the church. Pastor Casey Davidson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Baxter Springs Cemetery. Pallbearers for the service are Keaton Mishler, Cliff Mishler, Lee York, Michael Younger, Les Page and Rick Carter. Honorary Pallbearer will be Wayne Metcalf.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations to the Lowell Friends Church Building Fund or the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.