Baerbel Newberry

Baerbel C. "Barbara" Newberry, 70, of Christian Health Care East passed away on April 9, 2010 at Cox South in Springfield, MO. Barbara was born July 31, 1939 in Berlin, Germany. In 1959, she married Henry T. Newberry, Jr. in Berlin, Germany. She moved to the United States in 1960, following her husband to Ft. Leonard Wood, later moving with him to Phillipsburg, MO. She finally made her permanent family home in Springfield in 1966. Barbara so loved Springfield and the United States that she later became a US citizen in 1991. In Berlin, she was trained and worked as a seamstress for fashion designers. Barbara attended Springfield City College to study drafting. She worked as a draftsman for City Utilities for 25 years, retiring in 1995.

Barbara loved her grandchildren, vegetable and flower gardening, square dancing, dogs, camping, boating, needlework (sewing and crochet), travel, and mineral collecting. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Barbara was a member of the University Heights Baptist Church and Christ Church Unity. She enjoyed activities at the Springfield South Side Senior Center.

Barbara is preceded in death by her father and mother: Arthur and Charlotte (Hesse) Mathiske, Berlin Germany, her sister: Doerte Radtke of Salvador Brazil, her son-in-law: Curtis M. Luze of Shrewsbury, NJ, and the family dogs: Ralph (German Shepherd), Ziggy (Dachshund), and the long list of miniature poodles � Rexy, Blacky, Binky, and, finally, her beloved Tobie.

Survivors include her daughter, The Rev. Rosemarie Newberry and granddaughters, Danielle and Rebekka of Shrewsbury, NJ; her son, Jerone "Jerry" Newberry, his wife Diane and grandsons, Eric and Alex of The Woodlands, TX; her brother-in-law, Gerhard Radtke of Nuremburg, Germany; three nieces and two grandnephews of Munich, Germany. Barbara's family thanks all of the staff at Culpepper Place Assisted Living and Christian Health Care East for taking good care of Barbara during her final years.

Donations in Barbara's memory may be sent to: the Meal on Wheels Program at the South Side Senior Center, 2215 S. Fremont St., Springfield, MO 65804.

A Memorial Service will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, of Springfield Missouri, 2434 Battlefield Rd., on Saturday, April 24 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Michael J. Adamek officiating. Visitation with the family will be held at the church immediately after the service. Burial was at the National Cemetery in Springfield, MO, with her husband. Herman Lohmeyer Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Online condolences can be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.