Barbara Joan (Barkmeier) Heffelfinger was born on September 16, 1936, to Louis F. And Lucile M. (Peterson) Barkmeier in Friend, Nebraska. She passed away on Friday, September 4, 2026 at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 11 months, and 19 days. She was the oldest of two daughters.
Barb attended St. Stephen Parochial School and graduated from Exeter High School with the class of 1954. After high school, she attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
Following graduation from UNL, she taught Home Economics at Plattsmouth High School for five years. She met her future husband, Gail (Heff) Heffelfinger, who also was teaching in Plattsmouth. They were married at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Exeter, Nebraska on July 27, 1961. Three children were born to this union: Gregg, Brad, and Lynne. Heff and Barb were married for over 63 years.
In May of 1963, they moved to Exeter, Nebraska to manage and later purchase Barkmeier’s, a grocery and general merchandise store, from her parents. They operated the store until a July 1993 storm forced closure of the business. After the business closed, Barb worked at Orv’s Grocery in Friend and then for 10 years as a teller at First National Bank in Exeter.
Barb enjoyed playing bridge in several bridge clubs, was active in St. Stephen’s Altar Society, and the Exeter Senior Center. She enjoyed her children's and grandchildren’s activities, including time spent at the family cabin at Smokey L Lake near Linwood, Nebraska. Estes Park was a favorite travel destination. She also enjoyed watching Husker Sports with her husband, especially attending Husker Volleyball games.
She and Heff were charter members of the Friend Country Club and enjoyed many friendships they made there.
Barb was preceded in death by her husband; parents, Louis and Lucile Barkmeier; brother-in-law Roger Johnson, Sr.; parents-in-law, Robert and Ruth Heffelfinger; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Douglas Heffelfinger, Richard Heffelfinger, Robert and Lyla Heffelfinger, James and Sandra Heffelfinger, Patricia and John Weigang, Shirley & Edward Craren, and Ed Smallman; and nephew, Roger Johnson, Jr.
She is survived by her sons, Gregg Heffelfinger and wife, Theresa of Jacksonville, Florida and Brad Heffelfinger and wife, Andrea of Papillion, Nebraska; daughter, Lynne Filipi and husband, Brent of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandsons, Christopher Heffelfinger, Nicholas Heffelfinger, Andrew Heffelfinger, Jacob Heffelfinger, and Dylan Filipi; granddaughters, Megan Heffelfinger and Tayah Filipi; sister, Suzanne Johnson; sisters-in-law, Margaret Heffelfinger, Jeanie Heffelfinger and Sandra Smallman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
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