On July 1, 2022, Barbara Ann Padfield, 79, of Freeport, entered the gates of heaven, and we can only imagine if she was singing hallelujah or standing in awe!

She was born November 10, 1942, to Harold Lee and Margaret Edith (Cram) Mertens.

Barb attended Freeport schools graduating from Freeport Senior High in 1960.

On July 6, 1962, Barb married the love of her life, Keery Padfield, in Freeport. Together they raised three daughters, Marcy Bloom of Kearneysville, WV; Wendy Whitney of Rockford; and Lauri (Jim) Wienand of Freeport.

Barb worked at Freeport Jr High for 40 years. She started in 1969 as a Clerical Aide, retiring in 2008 as Administrative Assistant and Registrar. When the district went to in house computer processing, she was asked to train for the JHS position. A position she held until retirement. As a result, she saw the evolution of technology.

Barb was a remote TV news reporter by phone for 23 WCEE (now WIFR) in Rockford. She called in stories from Freeport and the surrounding area long before there were cell phones and Facebook Live. She was member of the Freeport Jaycettes, where her duties included helping with the Miss Freeport Pageant and chaperoning for Miss Illinois. She was a member of The Stephenson County Fire Investigation Task Force, having taken the tests alongside her husband in support of his career. She also worked as a Church Secretary at Zion Church.

Following retirement Barb participated in and held many bible study groups with friends in her home.  She was involved in the Women's Ministry Team and spent time working to find some God given purposes in her life. She loved to solve problems and help anyone she could.

Her Life Word was JOY.

Her favorite hymn was "Great Is Thy Faithfulness".

Her favorite verse was Jeremiah 29:11

Barb & Keery loved to visit historical sites across the US. Something they had shared all their married life and with their children. In later years she had 3 special cats, Miss Chiff, Miss T, and Miss Kitty. She took several trips with Keery and later cared for him at home prior to him heading heavenward to await her arrival just in time to celebrate their 60 ^th wedding anniversary.

Aside from her daughters, Barb is survived by eleven grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren, and sisters Sharon Jean (Roger) Magnuson of Rockford, and Connie Lee (Steven) Holloway of Freeport. She was predeceased by her husband, parents, and sons-in-law William Bloom and Jeffrey Whitney.

A celebration of Barb's life will be at 11:00 am Thursday, July 14th, at Crossroads Community Church, 1668 Crossroads Ln N. with Pastor Jon Eastlick officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 pm Wednesday, July 13th at the Walker Mortuary and an hour before the service on Thursday at the church. A memorial has been established in her name.  Please leave a message or memory in Barb's guestbook at www.walkermortuary.com.