Barbara Jean Buehler

Barbara Jean Flora Buehler, 90, passed away on December 11, 2017 at her home in Olathe, KS. Barbara was born on February 16, 1927 in Centropolis, KS. She was one of three daughters of Claude and Rochelle Flora and graduated from Salina High School in 1945. She attended Marymount College in Salina for one year and graduated from Kansas State University in 1949.

Barbara was happily married to Robert H. Buehler, also from Salina, for 68 years, living for a number of years in Wichita, KS, before moving to Overland Park, KS in 1965 with Bob and their three children. She contributed to her community in many ways over five decades of community service, following her passions for government, history, and volunteerism. Recently recognized by the League of Women Voters for 50 years of membership and leadership, Barbara served as a state vice president of the LWV of Kansas in the 1960s. A gifted organizer, she served on the original planning commission for Johnson County Community College and was a charter member (with Bob) of Friends of the Arboretum. For 10 years she served as Campaign Treasurer of the Jan Meyers for Congress Committee and also proudly volunteered for Governor Bob Bennett. Barbara provided such profound guidance and leadership to United Community Services of Johnson County that she was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award in 1980. She served on several standing committees for the City of Overland Park, including the Fair Housing Committee from the mid 1970s until 2013. When she resigned upon her move to Olathe in December of 2013, the mayor of Overland Park recognized Barbara as the volunteer of longest standing in the history of the city.

Barbara was a life member of both the Kansas Historical Society and the Overland Park Historical Society, and along with Bob was an avid bird-watcher. She also worked for many years as a financial manager for Shawnee Mission Psychiatric Group.

Barbara was preceded in death by her sister, Ivy Marsh. She is survived by beloved husband Bob, sister Mary Sue (Robert) Stinson, children Kathryn (Robert) Lorenzen, John (Jerri Hoover) Buehler, and Susan (David Hamill) Buehler, granddaughters Teresa (Brandon) Geneser, Jennifer Buehler, and Julia Hamill, and great-grandchildren Gavin and Jadyn Geneser, as well as 11 nieces and nephews.

The family suggests contributions to the Colonial Church of Prairie Village or to the Overland Park Arboretum.