Barbara Jo Hutmacher

Barbara Jo Hutmacher was born June 3, 1947 in Omaha to Frank and Merriwyn (Pigsley) Yale. She earned an Associate Degree from Metro Tech Community College and also studied Interior Design. On July 11, 1970, she married Douglas Hutmacher at Alma Lutheran Church in Mead. They worked side by side in business and, together, raised four children. Barb had a knack for turning something ordinary into an object of extraordinary beauty. She was a longtime member of Alma Lutheran Church in Mead and helped to design the lectern, cross and other church furnishings and spent hours applying beautiful finishes to various surfaces inside the church. Barb also used her creative abilities to design and finish all the furniture for her house in Arizona and, with Doug's help, renovated the structure into a charming winter home. It was vital to Barbara that her home in Mead be a place where everyone felt welcome and comfortable. While her children were growing up, Barb ensured that her home was a popular gathering place for her kids and their friends. A friend to all, Barb opened her house to friends and family and to anyone needing a place of safety and peace. She was an advocate for teenage girls, tempest-tossed by their circumstances, and lovingly took them under her wing and into her heart and home. Her favorite places were Mead, Arizona and Mexico. Barb was never one to be idle. She worked as manager of Customized Construction from 1970-1990 and, in April of 1985, became the proud owner of Husker Water in Mead. Barbara was a member of the National Notary Association and the Yankton Sioux Tribe. She served on the ARC Advisory Board for Region V Services, worked tirelessly with the Special Olympics, and chaperoned many Region V activities. Barb was a consummate list maker. To help her stay organized, she made daily lists of what she wanted to accomplish and sustained the energy required to complete her list by day's end. She is survived by her husband Doug Hutmacher of Mead; children Shane Hutmacher of Phoenix AZ, Christine Burch of Austin TX, Jason Hutmacher of Wahoo, Dustin (Teresa) Hutmacher of Hutto TX; siblings Michael Yale of Omaha, Steven (Nancy) Yale of Glenwood, IA, Kathleen (Art) Hynek of Omaha; brother-in-law Randal (Joan) Hutmacher of Ottertail MN; step-brothers-in-law Don (Sandy) Anderson of Mead, Mick (Mary Kay) Anderson of Elkhorn; and grandchildren Brytni Burch, Dalton Burch, Justin Hutmacher, Jesse Hutmacher, Taylor Kramer, Ayla Hutmacher, Greta Hutmacher, Isaiah Hutmacher and Clara Hutmacher. Barb was preceded in death her parents and brother Terry Yale. Serving as Casket Bearers will be Chad Hutmacher, Don Anderson, Jeff Schultz, Jeffrey Schultz, Doug Johnson and Greg Kavan. Memorials are directed to Alma Lutheran Church.