Barbara Nelson

In Loving Memory

Barbara

February 6, 1928 - October 23, 2026

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Barbara Nelson, a beloved mother, grandmother, and cherished friend, peacefully passed away on October 23, 2026. Born on February 6, 1928, in Medford, Oregon, Barbara was the daughter of Carl and Leora Niedermeyer,and sister to brother Arnold, a farming family near Medford. Her life was known for faith, friendships, work ethic, and devotion to her family. The Great Depression stamped the principles of frugality and work ethic early and permanently into her life. She darned socks, patched clothes, repurposed, reused, wore out, and saved most everything, as did her husband. She recycled before recycling was cool. "You never know when you might need it," was her motto. She graduated from small Jacksonville High School in 1946, then worked in a laboratory for a year before continuing her education at Oregon State College. The sacrifices to support the World War II effort had ended with victory. It was a good time for new beginnings. In 1951, Barbara finished a Bachelor's degree in General Science at Oregon State College, which led to her certification as a Medical Technician. On September 7, 1952, she married Jack Nelson, an OSC student that she had previously met in Medford. She supported them by working on campus in the medical clinic while he finished his degree in forestry. Working outside the home took a back seat when Mike was born, then Roberta, Bruce, and later Becky. Family and home life were her chosen focus, and she excelled! But she never lost interest in her degree. When the town doctor of Winston asked her to work in his office in 1978, she was happy to do so after a 25 year break from work outside the home. Gardening was a favorite hobby as well as her cherished rose garden. She was an expert in food preservation, passing this skill onto her daughters, while Jack taught the boys traditionally masculine skills. They were a team in parenting. She and Jack built a life in Winston, where they became active members of the community, always ready to help their neighbors and support community projects, always making friends. This included church leadership, Cub Scouts and PTA. Later Barbara held offices in the American Association of University Women, and the Roseburg chapter of PEO. She loved and was loved by her PEO sisters and her Lookingglass Community Church family for decades until the time of her death. A woman of strong faith, Barbara was often attending or leading various Bible studies. She began each day with prayer and Bible reading, a practice she maintained until her vision failed just weeks before her death. She didn't just say she would pray for you, she did pray. She encouraged all to trust God for guidance as she did, according to Proverbs 3:5-6. At the age of 94 (!) she started a weekly Bible Study group, which she led until her hospitalization at age 98. Barbara had the rare quality of being more interested in listening to others' lives and experiences than in talking about herself. She remembered everything about the people she met, then she would smile warmly and chat the next time she saw them. She was not a gossip; she believed the best in others. These traits explain why she had so many friends, from childhood to college, to adult life, to her elderly years. Her genuine care and kindness made her a cherished friend and the dependable, loving matriarch of four children, 16 grandchildren, 25 great grand children, three great great grandchildren. A celebration of Barbara's life will be held on November 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Lookingglass Community Church, located at 249 Coos Bay Wagon Road, Lookingglass. Flowers will be received thankfully or donations may be made to the Roseburg Rescue Mission at 725 SE Pine St, 97471, in memory of Barbara's generous spirit. The Nelson family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Shelly Brittain, the staff at Callahan Village, and the hospice team for the exceptional care and compassion shown to Barbara. Barbara would like to leave you with Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will guide your paths."