Barbara Lee Osterman

With close family by her side, Barbara peacefully passed away on January 22nd, 2024 after a long battle with cancer. She was 76 years old. She was a Christian.

Barbara was born Barbara Lee Reathaford on August 5, 1947, to her parents Bobby Lee and Neoma Mae Reathaford. As a child Barbara grew up in a military family and often had to move, so she lived and went to school in many places. Barbara graduated from Valencia High School in Placentia, California. She would later marry David R. Henzler and have two children, born Phyllis J. Henzler and Robert C. Henzler. Many years later she divorced David. A few years after that she started dating the love of her life and married Fred H. Osterman in 1987.

Barbara's management skills were put to use in several careers, beginning with WT Grant store in Fullerton as a clerk, and then in the role of office manager at California Wood Working Machinery Co. in Anaheim, CA. She later would continue in the position of office manager in the field of Commercial HVAC, working at different companies over the years including Carrier CBS in Brea, CA; and Air Management Systems West in Anaheim, CA.

Although she worked full-time in demanding fields, she always put her family's needs before her own needs and before her work. What little time she allowed herself was often spent quilting, sewing, and doing needlepoint while watching her favorite British murder mysteries and documentaries. Everything she made was a gift for someone else. When she was a young girl she made doll's clothes and furniture for her younger sisters to enjoy, later she would do the same for her granddaughter. She was a very skilled sketch artist who would only occasionally draw. She loved to collect teddy bears, dolls, depression glass, and antiques in general. Barbara was an amateur radio operator (HAM) for almost 50 years under the callsign WB6PIH. In her youth, Barbara loved riding her horse, "Sonda" (Bint SaandaBaar), and continued to have great affection for horses. She enjoyed the company of many pets throughout her life but especially enjoyed her cats. Barbara was never selfish. Not for a moment. If she wanted anything, it was for someone else.

Barbara was preceded in death by her closest sibling, Carla Brown, and brother-in-law Eugene "Gene" Brown. She was also preceded in death by her mother-in-law and father-in-law from her first marriage, Rodney and Virginia Henzler; and by her sister-in-law from her first marriage, Karen Holiday, who remained her close family.

She is survived by her husband, who remained devoted to her in sickness and in health, Fred Osterman; her two children, Phyllis "Jeana" Mohr and Robert Henzler; her son-in-law James M. Mohr; her grandchildren James D. Mohr and Shaeleigh Mohr. She is also survived by her mother Neoma Hoffman; by her sister Kathy Simpson and brother-in-law Dennis Simpson; by her sister Susan Mennealy, brother-in-law Joe Mennealy, and nephew Michael Mennealy; by her brother Patrick Hough, sister-in-law Holly Gold, and niece Emma Hough. She is also survived by her cats: Stella, Lola, and Cali.

Barbara touched all of these lives and more with her kindness and generosity and she will be missed very much.