Barbara Jean Stauffer

Barbara Jean (Lusch) Stauffer passed away peacefully at 91 years of age on October 30, 2023, in Edmonton, Alberta. She was born on January 24, 1932, in Cody, Wyoming, the eldest of the four children of the late William and Esther (Crandall) Lusch.

Barbara attended all twelve grades in Cody and graduated from Cody High School in May of 1950.

She was married to James C. Grubbs, Jr., on December 2, 1949 (seven weeks before her 18th birthday) and continued to attend school until she graduated in May of 1950. To this union was born four children: Larry Gene in October of 1950, Michael Duane in October of 1953, Patricia Rene in December of 1958, and Jeffrey Alan in December of 1961. The family lived in Cody until November of 1961, when they moved to Powell (about 20 miles east of Cody).

Barbara worked summers during her Junior High and Senior High School years at the Irma Hotel and Sunset Motel in Cody. During her senior year she worked part- time for State Farm Insurance. After her marriage, she worked for several years as a steno for a law firm, and a few months at Husky Oil Company.

The marriage ended in 1967. In 1968 Barbara and her three youngest children moved to Valleyview, Alberta, where her parents and siblings had moved several years earlier. There, she worked briefly for Pacific Oil Company as a bookkeeper, then took a position as a secretary for East Smoky School Division, where she later became the payroll clerk. She held this position for 18-1/2 years, until October of 1986.

Barbara met Clarence Swanson in 1969, and they were married in October of that year. He was the ice maker for the Valleyview Curling and Hockey Arena (Polar Palace), and she continued working for the School Division. Clarence’s health began to fail in 1980, and he was unable to work after 1981. Barbara became Clarence’s full-time caregiver until his death in August of 1993. They moved to Edmonton in June of 1992, where he was treated at Misericordia Hospital Palliative Care for much of the time, coming home for brief intervals. Barbara remained at Clarence’s bedside at the hospital for the final three months of his life.

In October of 1994, Barbara’s son Mike died tragically in an explosion at the Conoco Refinery in Billings, Montana. His death had a profound effect on Barbara, his siblings, and his son Michael Duane II, who was 12 years old at the time.

Barbara enjoyed travelling, and some highlights in her life included a 1982 trip to Israel, Egypt, and Greece with her mother; and a trip to Sweden in 1996, where she located some of her father’s relatives, and visited with some of Clarence’s cousins as well.

In August of 1997, Barbara married Wilbur Stauffer of Tofield, Alberta, and became stepmother to his five adult children, and step-grandmother to fifteen children, most of whom are now married with kids of their own. Barbara and Wilbur lived in Sherwood Park and Tofield until his death in August of 2021.

Barbara and Wilbur had three trips on their “bucket list” which they managed to fit in--a Caribbean cruise in 1998, a tour of the Maritimes in 2008, and a trip to Oahu in 2013. They also enjoyed trips to Arizona (a couple times for several months), to both the western and eastern coastal States, British Columbia, Montana, and Wyoming.

Barbara was always very busy, and had many interests including reading, puzzles, sewing, ceramics, curling, and helping friends and family whenever she could.

She was always a loving mother, grandma, and great-grandma. Throughout her life, in good times and hard times, Barbara was a devoted and compassionate Christian, and kept the faith to the end.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, William and Esther Lusch, her son Mike Grubbs, her grandson Tyler Grubbs, and her brother, Steve Lusch. She is survived by her children Larry (Carol) Grubbs, Patti Pelletier, and Jeff (Koreen) Grubbs; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and, five step-children, Sherry (Paul) Yoder, Coleen (Delford) Martin; Gwen (Donald) Zook, Alvin (Kathy) Stauffer, and Deanna (Rick) Showers, along with many step-grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Ramona (Jim) Johnson and May Joy (Arthur) Adolphson, and a host of nieces and nephews and their families.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023, in the chapel of the Memories Funeral Home at 13403 St. Albert Trail, in Edmonton, with Pastor Ken Stumph officiating. Burial will take place Tuesday, November 7th, at the Valleyview Municipal Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memoriesfuneral.com for the Stauffer family.