Barbara Jean Edstrom, of Villa Park, departed to be in the glory of the Lord on Jan. 17 while staying with daughter Donna Jean Mikal in Valley Center, Calif., for cancer treatments at the University of San Diego Cancer Hospital. She was 90
Barbara Jean McKnight was born in Elmhurst on June 9, 1930 to Custer and Frieda (Bauer) McKnight the oldest of three children. She grew up during the depression and World War II and was raised in a God-fearing Christian home. She attended Glenbard High School in Glen Ellyn for her first two years and then the family moved to Bellwood, where she graduated from Proviso High School in Maywood in 1948.
She then worked for Scripture Press Publications in Chicago until her marriage to Robert “Bob” “Whitey” Edstrom on July 26, 1952. They had two daughters, Donna Jean Marie and Roberta Lynn. When the empty nest approached, she was hired for customer service by several law firms due to her outgoing and sociable personality. She retired in 1992 from Thatcher Oaks Awnings in Elmhurst and traveled with her husband to many World War II U.S. Navy reunions all over the United States. She was an active member of Grace Bible Church in Elmhurst. She loved singing and became an active singer with the traveling ladies choir, the Golden Lights, for many years.
In 2010, she became reacquainted with a High School sweetheart Cyler Wenberg. They were married in 2011 and moved to Coos Bay, Ore. In 2012, Cy passed away. Barb moved back to her home in Villa Park with her daughter Roberta Lynn McClain and family.
Never one to complain about her circumstances, Barbara remained positive and sociable always. She had countless friends, many of her closest friends she considered her extended family, and she was the example of a faithful prayer warrior to the end. A true matriarch, she will be remembered for loving the Lord and for her strong example of belief and faith in the Lord to her family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob Edstrom, brother Paul McKnight, husband Cy Wenberg, daughter Roberta Lynn (Edstrom) McClain, son-in-law Randall (Randy) McClain and two great grandchildren.
Barbara is survived by daughter Donna Jean (John) Mikal, Sister Donna (Bob) Rice; 10 grandchildren, Luke (Jesse) McClain, Kaitlin (Matt) Rasband, Larissa (Tim) Lawless, Emma McClain, John (Darcy) Mikal, Sarah (Jason) Poole, Tim (Amy) Mikal, Anna (Marshall) Ferrell, Philip Mikal, Lydia Mikal; and 15 great grandchildren, Wyatt, Jase, Rhett, Lannah, Jane, Jonas, Grayson, Hailey, Stephanie, Kevin, Raymond, Matthew, Jaxon, and Jace.
Celebration of life service will be held at Grace Bible Church, Elmhurst on Friday May 28, 2021. For further details, please contact family via email address: [email protected]. Arrangements provided by the family.
