It is with a
heavy heart that we bring you this sad news. In loving memory,
Terry, Oliver, Cressa, Anna.
Barbara
Deshler
1946-2022
Barb (neé Cresswell) Deshler, grandmother
(Nana), mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, librarian,
teacher, climate activist, passed away on July 22 after being
diagnosed with glioblastoma on May 23rd. She faced this
diagnosis bravely and lived to the fullest the short time
remaining to her, surrounded by family and friends. You all know
that Barb was kind, generous, outgoing, grateful, and a worrier.
To the end she worried not about herself, and the end of her
life, but about what that loss would do to those she left
behind. Could we carry on without her sage advice, brilliant
ideas, endless good-byes and constant, “be carefuls”? To which
we would all reply don’t worry we will. Well now your worrying
days are over, we will be careful, and, while we say good-bye to
your mortal shell, we will not say good-bye to your endless
spirit.
Barb was born in Allentown Pennsylvania on May
24th, 1946, and a year later was trundled into the
back seat of a Chevrolet for a trip to Casper, Wyoming. Her
parents, Don and Betty Cresswell, moved there shortly after Don
returned from service in the United Kingdom during WWII. She
then lived most of her adult life in Wyoming, always regretting
that she had not been born in Wyoming. Barb graduated from
Natrona High in 1964 and University of Wyoming in 1968. In
September 1969 she married the love of her life, Terry, three
weeks after they were accepted into the Peace Corps to serve in
Kenya. The 1970s began in Kenya where Barb taught English,
history, and religious knowledge to eager Kenyan students, while
living with Terry on the school compound with no running water
or electricity in a house with mud walls. Two years later they
were back in Laramie where Terry entered graduate school and
Barb worked part time at Albany County Library. This interest
led to graduate school at the University of Oregon where she
completed a Master’s degree in library science in December 1975.
Shortly after that they were back in Laramie for more graduate
school for Terry. Barb worked at the University Science Library
and then again at the Laramie library, while also giving birth
to Oliver, 1977, Cressa, 1980, and Anna, 1981. In 1986 the
family moved to Auburn, California, before returning to Laramie
for the last time in 1988.
In Laramie Barb completed a second and third degree, now in
education, and soon began teaching in a mixed 4th-5th
grade at the University lab school (Prep). She taught there from
1993 until retirement in 2013. Later as she ran into former
students, she was invariably given a big hug and was told of how
what they had learned in her class came in useful many years on.
She was always eager to hear these stories and proud of what her
students had accomplished. She touched many lives over her 20
year teaching career. After retirement Barb started worrying
more about what the future held for her four grandchildren, Lola
(2012), Mayla (2013), Marin (2015), and Zane (2016). She soon
became quite active working with others in Wyoming to seek
solutions to the crisis in climate which is upon us. Barb was
pre-deceased by her father, Don (1999), and brother, Ted (2010).
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Terry, children
Oliver and Kelly of
Denver; Cressa and Bryce Schuster and grandchildren Lola and
Mayla of Portland, Oregon; Anna and Seth Stewart and
grandchildren Marin and Zane of Pelican, Alaska; her mother
Betty of Casper, brother Tom, sister Janet and Tom Wilson, all
of Laramie, plus multiple nieces and nephews.
A celebration of the life of this strong Wyoming woman was
held on September 24 outside at the Laramie train depot park,
with over 160 in attendance. Fitting with Barb’s spirit, the
celebration was followed by a potluck reception in the
depot. If you wish to donate to a climate cause in Barb’s
memory consider Citizen’s Climate Lobby.