Barbara Jean Schuler

On Tuesday January 31, 2023, Barbara Jean Schuler, passed away at age 76 surrounded by her loved ones.

Barb was born on February 13, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri to Melvin and Geraldine Walsh.  Waiting to meet her at home was her beloved brother, Gerald (Jerry). Together they grew up in Florissant, Missouri. Her mother sent her to  St. Joseph Academy in St. Louis to “make a lady out of her.” Per Barb, “it didn’t work!” She graduated from the Academy in 1964. She married Michael Donnelly soon after and they began their lives together. When Mike completed law school, they moved with their young daughter, Bridget, to Idaho in August 1970. It was here that they completed their family with the addition of Shannon and Devlin. Though Barb and Mike parted ways, they remained friends and worked together to raise their children.

In 1980, Barb married John Schuler and began her life as “not your ordinary farm wife.” For 25 years, she and John worked together with John’s brother Jim to run the dairy, Schulerlane Farms, in Nampa. Barb or Barbie as John often called her, had a wonderful life on the farm.   Though farm life can be difficult, it did allow them to spend the majority of their time together. Work hard and play hard was my motto; they always found something to laugh about. It was not all work however, they had numerous friends and enjoyed belonging to the Easy Valley Corvette Club. They restored a 1963 split window Corvette back to original factory condition. Jim passed away unexpectedly in 1997. They continued to farm until cancer took John away from us way too soon in 2006. 

Barb was lucky enough to meet another wonderful man, Gary Allen, with whom she shared her remaining years. She and Gary spent their time traveling “everywhere,” including many Corvette events, and an amazing trip to Australia and New Zealand with their friends. While she was diagnosed with COPD, she retained her sense of humor about her diminishing abilities by jokingly asking if someone could pick up “a new set of lungs” for her at the store. Sadly, the store in question always seemed to be out when we looked. Though her world became smaller, she always had Gary by her side, even if it was just to watch “trash tv.”  

Barb was welcomed into heaven by her father and mother. No doubt when she saw her brother, Jerry there, they began dancing, as they loved to do on Earth. John and Jim were there to remind her that “it’s a good day not to own cows, Barbie.” We have no doubt she is catching up with many family and friends and being the life of the party, making them laugh as she was here on earth. 

She is survived by her partner, Gary, forever friend Michael (Karen), children Bridget (Bev), Shannon (Jim) and Devlin (Vy). The light of her life were the grandchildren she was forced to leave: John (Miranda), Ryann (Aaron), Shauna, Matthew (Kal), Emmett, Ethan, Eric, Daniel, and Andre, and one great grandchild, Hunter.  Sadly she will not get to meet Hunter’s sister who will join us this summer.  Barb had more family and friends than there are stars in the sky, and she will be dearly missed by all of them. 

Viewing ceremony will be held on February 9, 2023 at 5pm to 8pm at Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel in Nampa, Idaho. The funeral service will take place at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nampa on February 10, 2023 at 1:30pm. The burial will take place afterwards at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Nampa. Reception to follow at Twenty Nine Hundred, 2900 E Railroad St., Nampa.  

In lieu of flowers, spend time with your family and friends, have a glass of wine, and/or make a donation to a charity of your choice.

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