Elsie Barr

Elsie Elizabeth Barr, 87, of Topeka, passed away peacefully at Lexington Park Assisted Living in Topeka, Kansas on Friday, April 19, 2024. Elsie was born on July 8, 1936 to Frank and Lillie “Grace” Hromada in Rossville, Kansas and grew up in Delia, Kansas. After graduating from Silver Lake High School, she married Robert Clark Barr on October 21, 1956 at Silver Lake United Methodist Church and together raised two children, Shelley and Todd. Elsie and Robert lived in the house they built as a young couple from 1968 until 2016, at which time they moved to Arbor Court Independent Living. In April of 2021, poor health caused Elsie and Robert to move to assisted living so Elsie could receive the daily assistance she needed.

Elsie is survived by her adoring husband, Robert, her children Shelley Gower (Brad) and Todd Barr, grandson Parker Gower, granddaughter Marit Rice Barr, a brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Elsie was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Marvin Hromada.

After graduating from high school, Elsie worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas for 14 years, then stayed home to raise the children. When the kids got older, she went to work as a secretary for the Seaman School District for over 20 years, retiring from her position at East Indianola Grade School in 2000. After retirement, she worked at H&R Block for several tax seasons. In 2001, she found herself with a new role – grandmother (Grammy to Parker and Grandma to Marit).

Elsie’s love for Robert and her kids was huge. Elsie and Robert enjoyed dancing and spent many Saturday nights at The Moose and other local dance clubs. They were able to travel after retirement, mostly driving to their destinations so they could “see the countryside”. They enjoyed spending time together doing anything and nothing….and greeted each other with 5 kisses after being apart. They would fall asleep at night holding hands. Elsie spent hours taking Shelley to dance and piano lessons, leading meetings as a Cub Scout leader for Todd or taking him to karate and going door to door as the neighborhood “Avon Lady”. She and Robert had a large circle of friends and prior to their declining health, they enjoyed spending time with them playing cards, celebrating New Years’ Eve at house parties, July 4th gatherings, dancing at The Moose and traveling. Extended family always looked forward to gatherings as she would make her famous potato salad, BBQ green beans and homemade ice cream. Elsie was passionate about working at the school and she treated all students as though they were her own children. She comforted scared kindergartners, bandaged bloody knees, gave out an endless number of hugs and even helped a student make spit balls to fill a pickle jar during recess, which was his punishment for shooting spitballs in the classroom. She was the perfect Grammy/Grandma and she and Robert faithfully attended Parker’s soccer matches and baseball games from the time he was 5 years old until he graduated from high school. She relished her time with Marit during the visits she and Todd would make to Topeka. She would move mountains for the grandkids.

After moving to Independent Living and then to Assisted Living, Elsie became a Royals baseball fan and learned the players’ names, positions and would even skip out on Bingo to watch them play. She enjoyed Bingo and Bean Bag Toss, socializing with other residents during meals and activities and loved listening to music. She and Shelley talked on the phone every day and Shelley visited at least once a week, always taking the time to paint Elsie’s fingernails, do “chores” or just sit and talk. She was always smiling, even on her not so good days, as she wanted to be strong for everyone else. Elsie touched a lot of hearts, and she will be cherished and remembered forever for her strength, giving nature, compassion, boundless love and her unwavering dedication to her family and friends.

Elsie was cremated. Her family will greet friends and relatives at a casual gathering from 11am to 2pm on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Parker-Price & Davidson Reception Center, 1940 NW Central Ave., Topeka, KS 66608. Private graveside services will be held at a later date at Mount Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 171335, Kansas City, KS 66117.

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