Barbi Vander Beek, 65, of New Sharon, passed away Saturday morning, Mar. 30, 2024, at Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa surrounded by her family. Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Apr. 3, at New Life Fellowship Church (formerly the New Sharon United Methodist Church) in New Sharon. Burial was in Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Sharon Fire and Rescue or Jim Vander Beek to be used for Youth Ministry in New Sharon in honor of Barbi.
Barbara Michelle Vander Beek, daughter of David and Mary (Fluesmeier) Garrison, was born Oct. 2, 1958, in Kansas City, MO. She graduated from Wellington-Nepoleon High School in Wellington, MO, as the valedictorian. Barbi studied business and finance at University of Missouri while working for Commerce Bank as executive loan secretary.
Dec. 10, 1983, Barbi was united in marriage to Jim Vander Beek in their home in Columbia, MO. To this union, one son was born, Zack. Barb then worked for Kawasaki of Missouri in customer relations. After Jim and Barb moved to Wellington, MO, she worked for Federal Land Bank. In 1986, they moved to New Sharon where Jim worked in the building business.
In 1992, Jim and Barb purchased Pro-Line Building Company working in the New Sharon area and in 2005 building the new facility on the south edge of New Sharon. Barb was the vice president working with Jim and helping with the day-to-day operations of the business, selling the business and retiring in 2017.
Barbi loved to cook and bake. She was a collector of many things, including Longaberger Baskets, Coke memorabilia, and Barbie dolls, she was an avid Royals and Chiefs fan, enjoyed traveling to watching her sons, Mack and Zack, race and watching her daughter, Lori’s, bluegrass band. Barbi also looked forward to her shopping trips, finding new restaurants to try, traveling with her family, having a girls’ night out “GNO” with her besties, she was also proud of staying in contact with her best friend from the second grade in Wellington, MO, Sheri McCarthy Bryant, she enjoyed hitting up the movie theaters for the newest movies, and above all being a “Nana” to her grandkids. She also enjoyed playing the piano, reading, and sewing. Barbi was very active in the New Sharon community, belonging to several different community organizations and church groups.
Her legacy will be cherished by her husband James Vander Beek of New Sharon; her children, Zack (Brittany) Vander Beek of New Sharon, Lori (Joe) King of Drakesville, Michelle “Moe” (Raymond) Charlton of Hannibal, MO, Brett “Mack” (Angie) Vander Beek of Waukee, and Jeanne (Jake) Muckerman of Cape Girardeau, MO; her grandchildren Addison, Ellianna, Hallie, Baby Boy Vander Beek, Alex, Aubrey, Owen, Eli, Ashli, Jade, Tayler, Raymond, Raylynn, Jake, Randall, Nick, and Luke; 20 great-grandkids; her parents David and Mary Garrison of New Sharon; her brother David (Kelly) Garrison of Lawrence, KS; special aunts and uncles, along with several nieces, nephews, and many, many friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Julius and Barbara Garrison and Leroy and Louise Fleusmeier.
