Barbara Louise Van Lerberg

Barbara Louise Van Lerberg, 85, affectionately known as "Babs", passed away August 4, 2023, surrounded by her children, at Overland Park (KS) Regional Medical Center, following a short illness. Barbara was born December 4, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois. The eldest of Robert E. and Muriel E. Patrusiak Judge's seven children, she attended St. Simeon School and graduated from Libertyville High School (IL) in 1955.

Barbara had a strong work ethic as a homemaker and instilled that quality in her children. In 1988, she received her EMT training and volunteered with the Shawnee (KS) Fire and Rescue Squad until 1991. Barbara loved spending time with her family. To be closer to her mother and siblings, she moved to Clearwater, Florida, in 1996. She returned to the Kansas City area, near her children and grandchildren, in 2019.

Barbara had a passion for entertaining and was seemingly always in the kitchen cooking without a recipe. She found joy working in her garden growing asparagus and tomatoes and completed many home improvement projects herself. Hummingbirds were frequent visitors to her yard and were lovingly fed and admired.

Other activities which brought great joy to her life were playing cards with her mom and siblings, making photo albums of her kids and grandkids, and driving her boat at the Lake of the Ozarks. While a lifelong fan of both the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, she also followed college sports in which her family participated: Benedictine Raven Baseball and Baker University Bowling. Barbara loved a competitive game of Words with Friends and enjoyed scrolling Facebook commenting on everyone’s photos.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Judge and Muriel E. Judge, sister Patricia DiCarlo, and brother Robert Judge (Linda). She is survived by her three daughters, Cheryl Keslar (Gerry), Lawrence, Kansas; Karen Ottesen (Grant), and Toni Mitchum (Jason), both of Shawnee, Kansas. Also, two grandchildren, Jared Keslar (Chloe) and Blake Patterson and her four siblings: James Judge, Shari Field (Matt), Thomas Judge, and Kerry Judge (Marie Louise). She will be missed by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and family friends.

A private funeral and graveside service will be held with her immediate family. A Celebration of Life will take place in Clearwater, Florida, in December. The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of a memorial donation in Barbara’s name to Overland Park Regional Medical Center ICU and/or Johnson County MED-ACT.