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Barbara Jane
Hermanson
Aug 3, 1941 — May 7, 2026
Wichita
Barbara Jane was born on August 3, 1941, on a small 80-acre farm in Southeastern Kansas. She was born to Joseph Glenn and Martha Irwin in Neosho Falls. Barbara Jane was their 6th child and a happy-go-lucky child. Everyone always kept an eye on her to see what she would do next. Barbara Jane and her sister Mona Lee would hand-make dresses and clothes and teach each other songs to sing while their mother played the piano. Her Brother Jesse would play his acoustic guitar while her other brother Gene would play his electric guitar on weekends at the family farm. Barbara Jane always had a wide variety of animals in her life; farm animals always had a special place in her heart. She always had the guilty pleasure of falling in love with a piglet or horse and trying to make them her pet instead of a work animal.
Barbara Jane had many talents, from hot rodding her dad's Ford Fairlane to helping her dad work on his Ford. She married shortly out of high school to Jim Snyder. After a few years of marriage, her first son, Troy Alan Snyder, was born. He loved animals and cars just like she did. Unfortunately, Troy passed away at the age of 14. In the early 1970s, Barbara would take her Jeep Wrangler and go trail riding or rock-climbing all-over Utah and Colorado. While out on her jeeping adventures, Barbara met Paul Smith. Out of this marriage, in 1973, came Jason Andrew, and then in 1976, Barbara got the biggest surprise: she was pregnant with a little girl, and she welcomed Lisa Marie into the world. She was not planned, but Jesus told her he had other plans. In 1986, Barbara met Harlan Hermanson. They were married in April of 1988 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1989, Barbara and Harlan (Al) purchased the first of many vacation places in Shell Knob Missouri. Barbara loved the lake, especially Table Rocklake in Missouri. She would go water skiing, fishing and just relaxing out in one of the most peaceful places they ever stumbled upon. She loved to be outside, from caring for flowers, and a small vegetable garden to feeding the birds and squirrels. One time at the cabin in Shell Knob, there was a squirrel that would eat and eat so much food, it would lay out flat on the board. You could tell it ate too much. Its big belly was hanging out.
Barbara Jane worked for several places over the years until she felt right at home at Law/Kingdon Engineers and Architects as their Head Accountant and Board Member. She retired with over 25 plus years of service in 2001. Barbara was very adamant about sending out cards. Holidays, anniversaries, birthdays and just because she could kind of cards. God was a very active part of her life; she was always a steward of Jesus for spreading his praise and words to everyone she met. God was very excited when he saw her waiting at the pearly gates after her departure from this earthly plain.
Barbara Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph Glenn and Martha Irwin Haag; sister Carol Riebe (Louie), Brothers Glen Haag, Jess Haag (Ellie), Gene Haag; and Son Troy Alan. She is survived by her husband Harlan Hermanson; son Jason Andrew; Daughter Lisa Marie (Jay); Harlan's Kids Brenda (Mike), Alan (Suzanne), and Phil (Michelle); Her 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Barbara was a shining light in everyone's lives and will be dearly missed.
Feel free to make a Donation in HONOR of My Mother's love of Animals, Flowers, Gardening and Education from Public Broadcast Television;
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