Barbara Kieling

Barbara (Horn) Kieling was born in Boise, Idaho to Everett and Lila Horn on August 20, 1940. She died in Porter Hospice in Centennial, Colorado on January 4, 2016.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Betty Lee Richie, her nephews, Marty Richie and Bobby Richie, her husband, John Robert Kieling, her granddaughter, Fallon Kieling, and her great-grandson, Mason Peacher.

Barbara is survived by her children, Steven Haworth, Tod Haworth (Cyndi), Randy Haworth (Janet) and Karina Plecker (Todd), her step-children, Dorie Cruz (Jarol), Shane Kieling (Jennifer), and Gail Wilson (Wally), twenty-two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Barbara was raised in Eagle and Boise, Idaho. She graduated from Boise High School in 1958 and entered the nursing program at St. Alphonsus Hospital to earn her nursing degree. During her clinicals in Wichita, Kansas she met her first husband Niles E. Haworth. They were married on August 4, 1961 and settled in Nampa, Idaho to begin their family and were blessed with three sons. They moved to Mustang, Oklahoma in 1967 where their daughter was born. After her divorce and her mother's death in 1976, she and her four children moved to the Denver area to be near her sister. Barbara met her second husband, "Bob" Kieling, a chaplain at Porter Adventist Hospital, when he came into the nursery to hold babies after presiding over a death in other areas of the hospital. They were married on September 27, 1992 and Barbara was blessed to gain three step-children. Bob and Barbara remained in the Denver area until their deaths.

Barbara began her nursing career in general medicine, having experience in the Emergency Department, ICU and Cardiac units. After the birth of her fourth child, she specialized in OB, and spent the remainder of her career in Labor & Delivery at various hospitals in Oklahoma City and Denver areas. Barbara enjoyed helping to usher new life into the world and often told stories of unique or exciting births, even at the dinner table!

Barbara was a loving and devoted mother and grandma. She attended sports events, recitals, plays and extracurricular activities as much as her career would allow. Despite being a struggling single mom, she enjoyed being score and stats keeper for her sons' baseball teams. She was an avid reader and passed on her passion to her kids by reading the classics to them such as, White Fang , Where the Red Fern Grows , Anne of Green Gables and many others. She loved her children and sacrificed greatly for their well-being. She continued with her grandchildren by attending sports events, school plays, choir concerts and every other life event possible. She loved listening to music, the louder the better! And she had a teasing sense of humor with her grandkids, frequently asking them what color the snow was at their house. Her snow was always blue!

Between sewing, knitting and crocheting Barbara's hands were never idle. While her children were little she sewed many of their clothes, and made many home decorations and gifts. She always carried with her a bag that held her latest yarn project. Starting with an intricate baby sweater for her oldest son, determined and against the discouragement of a friend, she taught herself to knit. She also crocheted with just as much skill and tenacity. Baby sweaters, booties, hats, mittens, sweaters and afghans. No project too difficult, too small or too big. Her grandchildren were each given a baby afghan at birth and a larger afghan when they moved to a big bed. Her children also received afghans. She loved knowing that her afghans were loved, used and brought warmth and comfort to those who received them. She donated over 30 baby afghans to charity as well. She was also entertained by doing puzzles, playing video games, and playing Bingo.

Many people were drawn to Barbara's keen, dry sense of humor. She enjoyed a good, hearty laugh out loud, especially with a friend. Barbara kept many friends for a life-time. Most of all she enjoyed her monthly gathering of friends to play Farkle. Barbara frequently tried to change the rules to meet her own scoring needs, but her friends made her toe the line!

Through many difficult circumstances in Barbara's life her faith in God sustained her. She leaned on Him in hardship and difficulty through prayer and studying of scripture. She saw God work many miracles in providing for her and her family; the timely bringing of a meal, payment from a forgotten debt or the church providing groceries at just the right moment. For many years Barbara attended services, played clarinet in the church orchestra, taught sixth grade girls Caravans and was active in the singles group. Recently, she was part of a small home-based church family that prayed for her and encouraged her through her fight with cancer.

Barbara's fight with breast cancer began in isolation. When it was discovered that she had cancer, her family rallied around her and she fought valiantly for nearly three years. She endured chemotherapy, surgery, two rounds of radiation and countless scans and tests. Her fight ended with family and friends surrounding her, loving her and sending her home to Jesus in a mixture of tears and laughter, just as she would have wanted.