Barbara Anne Baum's Obituary
Barbara Anne Baum, 79, of Decatur, passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at Prairie Rose Health Care Center in Pana, IL.
Barbara was born April 9, 1941, in Taylorville, IL to Charles and Alice Lucille (Phillips) Miller. Barbara worked at Hardees and retired from Millikin University Dining. She loved long walks, sunbathing, gardening, dancing, music, hairdressing and reading the newspaper.
She was born to a very abusive dad and a very hard working heart of gold Mom. Childhood was real rough on her and grams. She had a wonderful grandma that nicknamed her affectionately “babboo”. Fast forward to graduation, she had a “friend” who was going to “trim her hair for her” and chopped it to what we see in her grad photo and mom was devastated to the point of great obsession and never again had short hair. Keeping it long past the age of having it long and this would be a strong obsession she would try to pass onto me and get super angry when I would cut my hair at all. So that situation would be lifelong compulsion.
She was advised by someone to come to Decatur back then in 1960 saying it was Booming. So she moved and eventually was set up on blind date with my dad who was also interested in seeking marriage. So she then asked him over for spaghetti dinner. Rest was history. She 27 and he 32, she proposed as dad was painfully shy. They married and my late brother was born precisely 9mos later. Dad got big pat on back for. Brother came in May 68 and was named for Dad’s fave color...Kelley Green.
Then mom’s quick temper flared up. She was a hollerer and dad a weak stomach. Already a smoker he picked up from military he began to drink as well. After 3 yrs of fussing, he decided to try again with Mom and she got preg with me, the make up baby. I made my name up which in childhood along with my last nae would cause me decades of anguish. His middle name Eugene and mom’s Anne. They loved to go dancing in their heyday and grandma Alice babysat contently. He was called rockin robin thus my middle name. grandma Alice wanted me named Rebecca but our fam already had a “Becky”. I'm thinking mom had post-partum badly, as I sure did with mine too. And she met someone and wanted a 3rd baby. This story she would defend till her final days. Dad didn’t want another. 2 was good for him. So my lil brother Gary was created and Dad left.
He had smoked long as I remember, Inside car and his apt. I believe I was given 12 yrs chronic bronchitis for this habit. So please don’t smoke round kids. Plus he attained c o p d badly. On his weekends we went to grandma Alice’s and we Loved it! Pink house that later to our sadness would after 25 yrs she would switch for white. Loved the pink house and garden of eden as she was quite the gardener. Was a place of extreme comfort as mom was manic. I'm stopping there on that stuff. Mom worked as hairdresser, which works on commission and tips and a “following” mostly and the work slowed down. So I believe she then briefly worked for railroad as did her late brother. More n that later. I believe she coked for them and maybe cleaned. But that soon became to hard for her to do as new mom. Believe then she stayed home for a decade. Never was much a cook or housekeeper.
After a decade, I remember we would frequent the roller rink South on fam night. Eventually she would work there as floorguard/Dj, checkered shirt, whistle and all. Remember penalty box? When she needed a brief break, guess who got to dj?
Later she would go to CHELP and then live with a lady I remember well. That lady passed away and then I also was the age to work for pay after i'd done candystriping, I then made decision to try Hardees and she decided to join me on hiring day. Wound up being biscuit lady for some yrs. Walked crack of dawn to work and home just as her mom did. Yep this is that lady. The eldo walker. Eventually she was so burnt out, My former FIL suggested Millikin dining and she did that. Was mixed blessing.
She began at cashiering, then snack bar. Oh the stories. Then she went to Grill, again the stories, something occurred, and she was transferred to dishwashing and had a accident and was finally in dining room till retirement was forced at age 75. That’s not a misprint. Woman was a worker. Melanie should have many a memory eating there growing up and the holiday parties. I remember Skylar enjoying 1 or 2 on extreme snow days.
Final notes: mental health is needed. Depression a Monster. Please go after help! Its how I lost my big brother. He did call me bout it and didn’t like my answers but somehow we always managed a giggle esp if he got a kick out of me hollering at him. He just would not go for help. There is more to that but for most parts I'm keeping privacy. May he will be gone 7 yrs. He had a son that the wife wound up giving up. Big story there too. Mom would have wanted him acknowledged. We met him as an infant. Next, Dementia. Another monster. If you're a Landlord shame on you for taking advantage. If you goin and beat them up for cash, shame on you too. An they Need Heat in winter! Next note: Autism/asperger’s/pdd. By are they becoming more prominent. But its not kind to parent shame over it. Please refrain from. Next: be aware of fetal alcohol syndrome, its new yrs. People will be celebrating.
Miscellaneous: Mom all her life lived near railroad tracks thus became addict. When she had my kids they would listen for the whistle and Run out to wave. Holler to the ones that tossed my kids waters, stopped for them to set on steps for photo. It was never forgotten. Once at a fireworks shop a few acknowledged us. Made our day. Later on mom would set her chair By the tracks or set ON tracks. Anther compulsion she had. So when I moved her away to safer town, she told me she noticed no trains. Made her very sad. I think that also affected her a lot. Final sidenote before Gratitudes: People to thank that touched my heart. James for always giving a care, Jackie Let her hold dog and let me stay nights over during trying time; Larry Thanks. I never cease to smile when I run into you. KIND heart. Stella talked flowers with her the month I had Mom. Often neighbors can make us miserable {cough!} or make it a delight. Melissa K for the regular validation, Amy M same for you. You brought me to tears twice; lastly same for Chad. People who unwaveringly lift a person up are gold. I never forgot Ronda for helping me with dad’s business. The guy driving my mom back from Pana, thanks for your patience and late night driving. Angela and Jennifer OMG, thx for the laughs we have. Good medicine. Mrs Sherri for the Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t know where my “friend” from Krekels went by I miss you and hope you're well!!!
Signed, both parents’ POA, Genanne aka Gen
She is survived by her daughter, Genanne “Gen” Baum; her son, Gary (Janice) Rolofson, Jr; seven grandchildren, Skylar Karakachos, Melanie Baum, Gary Lee Rolofson III, Adelle Rolofson, Isaac Rolofson, Alana Rolofson and Cody Baum.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Kelley Baum and her brother, Johnny Miller.
Honoring Barbara’s wishes, cremation services will be provided by the Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 2091 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur, IL. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Please view the online obituary, send condolences, and share memories at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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