Barbara T. Voelm

Oct 24, 2012 | Obituaries 2012

Barbara T. Voelm, 75, Mission, Kan., died October 21, 2012, after a hard fought recovery from a heart attack on Oct. 1. Memorial service to celebrate her life will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village. Barbara was born on March 29, 1937, to Fred and Dorothy Tiegs in Milwaukee, Wis. She graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Education in 1958. It was there that she met her husband, David, of 42 years, who died in 2002 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. They moved to the Kansas City area in 1963. She received a MA in reading education in 1976 and a MS in gifted education in 1980. Her 35 years of teaching included elementary classroom teacher (4th and 6th grade), followed by reading specialist and teacher of gifted education in the Shawnee Mission school district from 1975-2003. Barbara lived a life characterized by giving, loving, and seeing the best in others. She has been a long time member of Village Presbyterian Church where she was an ordained Deacon, an active Stephen Minister, and active in the Presbyterian Women and Village Forum Sunday school class. Barbara had a passion for traveling, and she spent her last two weeks traveling to London with a group from Village Church. Her favorite place to travel, however, was to the Lake of the Ozarks, where she loved spending time with family and friends. She loved her grandkids with all her heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Dorothy Tiegs, and her husband, David Voelm. She is survived by her daughter, Lianne Voelm and her children, Tyler and Lars Ohlson of Berkeley, Calif.; daughter, Laura Nelson and her husband David and their children Cody, Caleb, Zach and Kelli of Overland Park, Kan.; sister, Carolyn French of Edina, Minn., and her nieces, Julie McEntee and Lori French. She leaves behind an exceptional group of devoted friends, whom she loved very much, including her dear friend, Fred Meier. Her joie de vivre and adventuresome spirit will be profoundly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114 or online at www.kansascityhospice.org. Arr.: Signature Funerals, 8019 State Line Rd., KCMO (816) 214-5174. www.cathyb6.sg-host.com Signature Funerals; honoring life; honoring death. 8019 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64114 (816) 214-5174

Published in Kansas City Star from October 23 to October 24, 2012

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