Barbara A. (Wissler) Baumgardner, 84, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the Davis Hospice Center.

Barbara was born October 29, 1931, in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, daughter of the late Clifton and Lizzie Bell (Bone) Wissler.

Barbara attended the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind (CSDB) in Colorado Springs until graduating in 1949. Following graduation, she attended Galludet University from 1949-51. She then returned home to marry her elementary school sweetheart, Donald Baumgardner. Barbara and Donald grew up together at CSBD and were married for 22 years before he passed away. Together they raised a son and three daughters, and they ranched and farmed in Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming. Barbara moved to Cheyenne in 1972 and later returned to college at the University of Wyoming to finish her Bachelor’s degree. Upon completion of her degree, she began working for UW and traveled the state researching hearing problems and setting up a mobile hearing service to help people in all the small communities across the state. A year later, she began working at the University Speech and Hearing Department. She established a full American sign-language program for UW and taught there for 25 years. During this period of time, she also taught American sign-language at LCCC in Cheyenne and worked at LCCC for 20 years.

Barbara was an advocate for the deaf and people with disabilities to make sure that their needs were acknowledged and services were provided. She was an influential member of the community and spent her life looking out for others. She retired from UW and LCCC in 2002. She lived a total of 43 years in Cheyenne.

Barbara is survived by three daughters, Vanessa Mueller of Lakewood, CO, Candida Balowski of Elk River, MN, and Melissa Baumgardner of Tennessee; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald Dean Baumgardner; son, Derek Dean Baumgardner; and grandson, Drew Dean Baumgardner.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 7, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 8th at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Cremation will follow under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.

Donations may be made to the Cathedral Home for Children in Laramie, Wyoming

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