Barbara Jane Schrang

1931 - 2016

Schrang (Roskie), Barbara Jane

Barbara Jane Schrang (Roskie) passed away peacefully this Monday March 7th, 2016, comforted by family members at her bedside, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 84 years old.

Born in Wheatland, Wyoming in 1931, Barbara was the daughter and grand-daughter of pioneers who settled the rugged land on the slopes of Laramie Peak in Wyoming. The oldest of four children of Andrew and Margaret Roskie, she was a bright and adventurous spirit. As a young girl she worked as a cook at the infamous Robbers' Roost Ranch in Medicine Bow. At the age of 18 she took a job teaching in a simple one room schoolhouse on the side of Laramie Peak. A year later she used some of the money she saved to buy a small share in a fabric covered Aeronca Champ and learned to fly, becoming one of the youngest and earliest aviatrix of Wyoming. Having spread her wings she looked towards the big cities and moved on to Denver, where she became an x-ray technician. In San Francisco, she met and married the young surgeon Dr. Eugene Schrang. They moved to Neenah, Wisconsin in the 1960s where they made their home and raised four children.

In 1980 Barbara became very active in Ronald Reagan's run for the presidency, eventually becoming a state chairman for his campaign. She was a delegate twice to the Republican National Convention and a guest of the Reagan's at his inauguration and inaugural ball. Over the years she maintained a close relationship with the Reagan family and was a frequent visitor to the Reagan Whitehouse.

Barbara had many interests including raising roses and orchids, antique collecting, rare books, and was a tireless volunteer for the hospital auxiliary at Theda Clark. Later in life she traveled extensively around the world, and spent a substantial amount of time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She retired initially to Denver, but later went on to live near her children and grandchildren.

Barbara is survived by her four children Beth Murphy (Tim), Stephen, Kirsten Tarafa (Albert), and Eric. She is also survived by six Grandchildren; Meg Flategraff (Russell), Bridget Murphy, William, Alexander and Nicholas Schrang, and Tabatha Tarafa, and three great grandchildren; Olivia, Sophia and Jack Flategraff. She is further survived by her youngest sister Allene Krauss.

According to her final wishes, Barbara will be cremated and her ashes will be spread at the top of her beloved Laramie Peak.