Barbara Lee Burmeister

Barbara Lee (Yuhas) Burmeister, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a lifetime of love, creativity and kindness. Born in Cleveland, she grew up in Maple Heights and attended Maple Heights High School.

She moved to Bay City, Michigan and worked as a medical assistant and an X-ray technician. Barbara met her husband, Fred Burmeister who she married in January of 1970. Shortly after, they embarked on a grand adventure in Bangkok, Thailand as Fred started working for the CIA and they had their first child. Eventually, they landed in Goshen, Indiana, where their daughter was born. Barbara balanced raising a family and working in logistics. She dedicated many years to Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Plumrose USA.

After retiring, she moved to Crossville, Tennessee, to be near family, and later settled in Westfield, Indiana, to be close to her beloved grandchildren.

A woman of many talents, Barbara was a gifted crafter, cross stitcher, quilter, seamstress and artist. She was never afraid to try a new skill including basket making, charcoal drawing, watercolor painting or sketching. She found joy in creating beauty with her hands and sharing her talents with friends. She belonged to many quilting groups and created many joint projects for the community.

Barbara was well known for her delicious homemade strawberry jam and had a deep love for music, especially Fleetwood Mac. She had a special fondness for kitties, who were often a part of her home, even agreeing to adopt the feline her daughter smuggled into her college dorm once it was discovered by authorities.

She also had an amazing green thumb. Barbara often picked the saddest and most discounted of plants at the garden store to bring home and nurture back to health. Her last home had a sunroom filled with thriving plants.

Barbara and Fred shared a love for camping, making cherished memories over the years. They started with a pop-up trailer, upgraded to a hard-sided camper, and eventually enjoyed traveling in their 5th wheel during retirement.

More than anything, Barbara was a great hostess and friend. She was always prepared with snacks for visitors and was the biggest cheerleader for her children and grandchildren. Her compassion and unwavering support were felt by all who knew her—she truly never met a stranger.

She is survived by her daughter, Carin (Burmeister) McBroom, her husband, Fred, along with their twin sons, Freddie and Henry (14); her son, William (Bill) Burmeister, and his wife, Stacey, along with their children, Emma (14) and Nick (11); and her sister, Laurel Yuhas. She was preceded in death by her father Joseph Yuhas, mother Anna Roshaven and husband Fred Burmeister.

Barbara’s warmth, generosity, and vibrant spirit will be deeply missed, but her love and legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Humane Society For Hamilton County in her honor.