Barbara Claire Bassler

Barbara Claire (Kruse) Bassler September 3, 1948 – December 18, 2016 On December 18, 2016 an angel mother, wife, grandmother, and sister, Barbara Claire Bassler passed peacefully from this life at home surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Robert Roland and Catherine Emma (Penner) Kruse. She was the youngest of four children with brothers Philip, David, and Stephan. Barbara graduated from Topeka West High School in 1966 and Washburn University of Topeka in 1970 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. Barbara was best known for several things; her love of family, her smile and unrelenting positive attitude, her sense of humor, and her ability to make a new friend each and every day no matter where she went. She always saw the good in others and never was heard uttering a negative word about anyone. Her passion was creating a warm and loving home for herself and all those around her to enjoy, while also planning new adventures near and far. She was found always with a small calendar and notebook, or a scrap of paper, where she made lists and jotted down notes and important upcoming events like birthdays and visits with family and friends. Barb loved reading, music, gardening, shopping and FRENCH FRIES! Barbara's favorite quote: "You aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy." And according to Barb, she was wealthy! More recently, in her battle with cancer, she felt strongly that "there is always something worth fighting for." Barb loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, baking cookies with them, cheering them on in any activity, and watching them play as kids do so well. Barb also enjoyed rooting on the Utah State University Aggies football team and going on trips with her husband Dave to the Oregon Coast, Hawaii, and across country on an Amtrak train to visit family in Pennsylvania. Barb retired from federal service in 2012 after 24+ years working for the Sawtooth National Forest, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. After retirement, she remained active on Great Basin Incident Management Teams. She loved the time she spent working with her team to fight a forest fire or help after a natural disaster. Barb was extremely skilled in her role as a Fire Information Officer, working tirelessly to keep communities and the local media apprised of the situation affecting their town and homes. Barb had a huge heart and shared her love with many others over the years through various volunteering activities with Meals on Wheels, St. Luke's Magic Valley Home Health& Hospice, PEO, and JUMP Company, to name a few. Barb is survived by loving spouse David Bassler, daughter Laura Landers (Steve), son Aaron Todd (Kelsey), son Robert Bassler (Shawna), son Joseph Bassler (Kristin), daughter Amanda Perrine (Nathan), fourteen grandchildren, Bode, Jack, Eli, Emmett, Jack Burton, Dylan, Aiyla, Alexis, Dareon, Ethan, Ethan (EJ), Brayden, Zoey and Kambree and brother Philip Kruse (Anne). Barb was preceded in death by father Robert Kruse, mother Catherine (Penner) Kruse-Mayer, brother Stephan Kruse, and brother David Kruse. A Celebration of Life to remember and honor Barb will be held in the Spring of 2017 under the direction of Rosenau Funeral Home. The family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers at St. Luke's Medical Center, the Mountain States Tumor Institute and St. Luke's Magic Valley Home Health and Hospice for their support through this time. In lieu of flowers, Barbara wishes donations be made to Twin Falls PEO's Project for Continuing Education (peointernational.org) or St. Luke's Magic Valley Home Health and Hospice. "Don't cry because I am gone. Smile because I have been."