Barbara Ruth Eggers, age 72, passed away after a long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer on March 7th, 2024. She was born on November 10th, 1951 in Joplin, Missouri to Robert and Frances Heiniger. Barb was the oldest of four siblings, with three brothers – Bob, Mike and Doug – completing the family.

Growing up, Barb attended many schools while moving around for Bob, Sr.’s job before finally graduating from Concordia Kansas High School in 1969. After high school, she worked at Manly Transfer as a rate clerk while she attended Missouri Southern College, with plans of working toward an accounting degree. However, those plans changed in the summer of 1971 when she met the love of her life, Greg, while vacationing with family at Lake of the Ozarks. Greg was stationed there while in the Army. After Greg’s discharge from the Army they continued a long distance relationship until their marriage on October 13th, 1973 in Prescott, Wisconsin. They started their family in 1980 with the birth of Brandon on November 6th and the birth of Nicole on June 19th of 1982.

Barb spent her career working for 3M, where she started in late fall of 1973. She began as an executive assistant in the transportation division, where her background at Manly, her mind for numbers, and her ability to learn their systems facilitated her advancement over the years. When she retired in 2008, she was working as a supervisory systems analyst in the logistics department.

For many years Greg and Barb were active members of St. Joseph’s Parish, where they served as lectures and as Eucharistic ministers until her retirement, at which time they began a more migratory life, heading south and west to escape the winters. They would visit family in Missouri and then journey to Green Valley, Arizona in the late winter months. There, Greg golfed, Barb relaxed, and they cultivated numerous wonderful friendships. Finally, in 2018 they sold their home and begin full time RVing. They spent summers on Yellow Lake and then traveled a circuit to visit her family in MO, Nicole in Knoxville, and friends in Arizona.

Barb enjoyed reading, puzzles, crocheting, fishing, traveling, and an occasional casino stop. Before her eyesight deteriorated, she also enjoyed quilting. She was an expert organizer – her spreadsheets had spreadsheets – and she kept Greg and the kids in line. She was like the steady beating heart at the center of their family and she will be deeply missed.

Barb was so very proud of her children and always encouraged them in their dreams and ambitions. Brandon remains in Prescott, where he works as an electrician and is currently employed by St. Paul Public Schools as an automation expert. Nicole completed her PhD in African history in 2013 at UW Madison and is currently an associate professor of history at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Barb is preceded in death by her parents and brother Jeffery. She is survived by her husband Greg, daughter Nicole (Derek), son Brandon (Nicole), granddaughter Evy, and brothers Bob (Judy), Mike (Anita) and Doug (Kim).

A memorial gathering for Barb will be held on Thursday, March 14th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1339 Orrin Rd., Prescott, Wisconsin. The memorial Mass will be at 10:30 am on Friday, March 15th, at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 269 Dakota St., Prescott, Wisconsin with gathering beginning at 9:30 a.m. There will also be a celebration of life in Joplin, MO for her family and friends in that area (details forthcoming). She will be laid to rest later this spring with her immediate family attending.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations in memory of Barb to go to glioblastoma research. The family will be setting up an account to make donations to a foundation that supports research on glioblastoma.  Donations can be sent directly to  Brains Together for a Cure. They can also be sent via mail to Greg at:

Greg Eggers
569 Hillside Dr
Prescott, Wi 54021

Or they can be sent via Venmo to @Nicole-Eggers. Please indicate “Barb’s Memorial Fund” in the memo.

Memorial and cremation services are entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Prescott, www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com, 715-262-5404