Barbara Radcliffe Schroeder was born to Earl and Alice Radcliffe July 30, 1934 on a farm in Graham County. Her life of 84 years ended peacefully in the presence of her family in Wichita, Kansas at her son and daughter-in-law’s home, Wednesday, October 3, 2018.
Barb grew up on the family farm where she enjoyed a swing made for the children, the one-room school house and the closeness of family. It was the farm living that taught her a work ethic that became second nature for her entire life. She was second to the youngest of six children spanning over 18 years. She spoke often of her farm chores and growing up in Graham County.
Barb graduated from Hill City High School at 16 then went on to live with her eldest sister in San Francisco where she attended her first two years of college. The love of caring for people led her to seek her five year degree in nursing at the University of Colorado at Denver General Hospital. During this time, Barb met the man of her dreams, Cliff Schroeder, an air traffic controller who had moved to Hill City after being stationed in Alaska.
Barb’s nursing career was important to her as she loved every aspect of patient care and administration. She often took additional shifts and even became a nurse anesthetist serving Graham County Hospital. Her career followed her in her move to Dodge City where she was the director of nursing at the local hospital. After watching her mother suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, she got her master’s degree at Kansas State and became the administrator for the Manor, a nursing home in Dodge City. Barb was on the cutting edge serving on the board of nursing at the state level defining quality care which became the golden standard for all Kansans to receive in her beloved state. She had many accomplishments, but her most meaningful was being an integral part of building and being administrator of a state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s unit in Dodge City. Suffice it to say that many Kansans have benefited from Barb’s tireless efforts that she gave to the nursing profession during her lifetime.
Barb adored her three children Brad, Lisa and Chris. She was involved in their school activities, scouts, sports – always shining her love upon her family. She made birthdays and holidays key traditions in the Schroeder household and demonstrated the importance of giving as a moral duty. She cherished her grandchildren and heaped love upon each of them. However, her only demand of them was to be called Grandmother! She especially enjoyed Christmas when she delighted in the opening of presents and a massive family dinner which she started cooking the day before. She made the best stuffing in the world.
Barb’s passions outside career and family included church participation. After retirement Barb and Cliff moved to northwest Arkansas. They attended the Presbyterian Church there. She taught children, started and led a women’s Bible study and loved singing in the choir. She and her sister Betty were also active in the church dramas and acting in church plays. She was quite a ham. She and Cliff lived on a beautiful lake and found much pleasure entertaining with delicious food, great fellowship and the beauty of lake living. Barb has made so many quilts her family has lost count. Most of them were given to others. She had a saying, “I would rather dance than breathe,” and she did so up to a few days before her passing away.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers; two sisters and two husbands.
Left to celebrate her life are her sons: Brad Schroeder, Wichita, Kansas; Chris (Jan) Schroeder, Wichita, Kansas; daughter, Lisa (Doug) Friesen, Bella Vista, Arkansas; brother, Gene (Trudy) Radcliffe, Denver, Colorado; nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Barbara’s dedication to career, family and church will serve as an example of a life well lived for generations to come.