Barbara Brown

“A moment is all it takes to absolutely love her and know she loves you back.”

On Friday, June 18, 2021, Barbara Ann (née Jaeger) Brown, age 60, resident of Waterloo, IL and cherished mother of Julia Meyer, peacefully slipped from her earthly bonds, to take wing and soar into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Barbara was born on June 25, 1960, in East St. Louis, IL, to Robert C. and Billie S. (née Barham) Jaeger. She was a 1978 graduate of Grover Cleveland High School in St. Louis, MO.

Barb’s time in high school was, of course, about getting a good education. She was an excellent student and became a member of the National Honor Society. But like all the other endeavors that Barb would experience throughout her life, the thing most important to her was forging life-long friendships.

Barb had a variety of employment experiences throughout her adult life and each one was suited to her special gift as a people lover. Whether working in the offices of St. Louis Refrigerator Car Company, with her dad and brothers, or at Metro East Industries in later years, again with family, she always had a way of encouraging and bringing out the best in those around her. As a result, many of those relationships turned into some wonderful friendships.

People were naturally drawn to Barb and always knew she was a trusted friend. Those qualities along with her cheerful and helpful demeanor resulted in many years of enjoyment working in the banking industry as an Executive Assistant. She drew satisfaction from helping both clients and co-workers alike, and from this, long-lasting friendships were born. We are certain the stories they could all share of how Barb touched their lives would be numerous and heartwarming. That was Barbie!

Barb knew she was blessed and her faith in God, though often tested, was strong. As can happen to us all, Barb faced both physical and emotional challenges, yet had the courage to meet them with grace. Whether battling physical pain or deep personal loss, her fears would gradually subside as she turned her focus back to the reality that God loves her and is always with her. Psalm 23 was a poem that meant so much to her particularly after the death of her sister, Sheila. She believed the promise that with God her soul was refreshed; that God was with her, even in darkest moments, God would be with her.  She believed the promise that His goodness and mercy would always be with her and she will live with Him forever!  She trusted that something better was on the horizon and on June 18, 2021, it was so!

Barb was preceded in death by her father Robert and her mother, Billie. Also, her brothers Bruce (Beverly) Jaeger; Jim (Shirley) Jaeger; Tom Jaeger; her sister Sheila (Roger) Middleton; her former husband Kevin Brown, and her great niece, Sakura Wirth.

She is survived by her “three girls” as she liked to call them: daughter Julia (Paul) Meyer, stepdaughter Jennifer (Morgan) Raley, and “adopted” daughter Michelle (Zachary Barton) Ries. She also leaves behind her beloved mother-in-law, Bonnie Brown, her sister Connie (Doug) Lemmon, her sisters-in-law Beverly and Shirley Jaeger and brother-in-law, Doug Lemmon. Also, an aunt, Dottie (Joseph) Viola, as well as numerous loving cousins, nieces, nephews, a great grandniece, a great grandnephew-on-the-way, fur grandbabies, and countless precious friends.

Memorial Visitation for Barb will be held on Sunday, June 27, 2021, at John L. ZIEGENHEIN & Sons Funeral Home, 4830 LeMay Ferry Rd, St. Louis, MO 63129.

Memorial visitation will begin at 1:00 pm followed by a celebration of life at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests, with gratitude, that memorial contributions be directed to:

Wreaths Across America
P.O. Box 249
Columbia Falls, ME 04623

* checks payable to “WAA”
https://donate.wreathsacrossamerica.org