Barbara Elaine Gimlin

Barbara E. Gimlin left this world on Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, after a brief hospitalization for circulatory issues. She was born Barbara Hasbrook on February 13, 1939, to Howard Hasbrook, an adventurous young pilot, and his beautiful German immigrant wife, Christel Hasbrook, in Kings Park, New York. A high school musician and cheerleader, fate brought Barbara together with a young lifeguard, Don Wiedenkeller, who became her first husband in August of 1958. Barbara and Don had three children (Keith, Leigh Ann, and Kurt) and lived all over the country (New Jersey, New York, Florida, Georgia, California, Alabama, Ohio) as Don pursued career advancement opportunities in the insurance industry, finally settling in Overland Park, Kansas. Barbara held various secretarial and administrative positions throughout the years, but her full-time focus was raising her three children, holding the family together and managing the household through almost a dozen moves. When Don died suddenly in 1985, Barbara was blessed to find comfort -- and a true second love of her life -- in the form of Eldon “E.J.” Jansen. Eldon and Barbara lived in Overland Park initially, but traveled extensively, and ultimately settled in Corpus Christie, Texas, where they enjoyed the pleasures of retirement. After sharing over 20 years together, Eldon passed in October of 2007, and Barbara split her time between Corpus Christie, Kansas City, and Grove, Oklahoma, where she kept a modest vacation home. At the unlikely age of 75, she was blessed to meet yet another partner with whom to share her remaining years, Jon Gimlin. She and Jon were married almost nine years, sharing the joys of faith, family, and friendship in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, a loving community where she was welcomed as family. Wherever she was and whoever she was with, Barbara shared her tremendous joy for living and a true commitment to her faith and caring for others. She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Don, her second husband, Eldon, her only brother, Jay, and her grandson, Travis. She is survived by her husband, Jon Gimlin, son, Keith Wiedenkeller (Anne), daughter, Leigh Ann Morris (Scott), and son, Kurt Wiedenkeller (Michelle); grandchildren: Ryan (Emma), Logan (Claudia), Lakisha, Lee (Ashlie), Evan, and Nolan; and great grandchild, Ensley. Memorial services will be held at Bartlesville First Baptist Church, 405 S Cherokee Avenue, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on Monday, May 1, at 10:30 a.m., with visitation at Stumpff Funeral Home, 1600 SE Washington Blvd, on Sunday, April 30, from 2-4 p.m. Graveside services will be held at Johnson County Memorial Gardens in Overland Park, KS, on Tuesday, May 2, at 1 p.m. Donations in Barb’s honor would be welcomed at Bartlesville First Baptist Church (address above), or Birthright of Bartlesville, 301 S Seneca Ave, in Bartlesville.

Barbara Elaine Gimlin

February 13, 1939 - April 22, 2023