Barbara Lynn Wills was born April 11, 1945 in Pender, Nebraska, the daughter of Ralph and Mabel (Roosendaal) Jaycox. The family moved from Nebraska to live in Lake Park, Iowa when Barb was very young. Barb graduated from Lake Park High School in 1963 and moved to Spirit Lake.
In the 1970s she babysat for several children in her home while raising her own three children. She also worked at the Spirit Lake bowling alley with the Dennert family and they have remained close family friends through the years. In 1979 Barb found her dream job with Lakes Regional Healthcare as a medical/surgical ward secretary for thirty-two years until she retired December 2nd, 2011. She quickly became the "go to" person for all employees with any questions. She worked with the most wonderful, thoughtful, and caring group of people she could have had the pleasure of knowing and working with.
Barb enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. She enjoyed bowling, watching sprint car races, playing cards, shopping, traveling to Texas to see family and watching movies.
Barb passed away February 26, 2012 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake at sixty-six years of age.
She is survived by her children, Lisa (Wills) Lyon of Waco Texas, Angie Wills of Milford, Iowa, and Brian Wills of Lake Park, Iowa; grandchildren, Danielle Cockrell and Trishelle Roberts both of Waco Texas, Amanda Wills of Brainard, Nebraska; great grandchildren, Jace, Christian, Deven and Jimmie from Texas and Kaymie from Nebraska.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Mabel Jaycox; brother, Norman Jaycox; special friend, Scott Steuben; several aunts, uncles and cousins.