Obituary

Barry L. Fiedler

Obituary

Barry L. Fiedler, 69, died suddenly on July 12, 2011, while vacationing in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Barry was born July 7, 1942, in Newton, son of the late William F. Fiedler and Geraldine E. Connor.

When Barry was young, his father was in the U.S. Navy and stationed in San Diego, where Barry and his family lived until he was in junior high and then moved back to Newton. There he met his wife, Carol, and they were high school sweethearts and married in 1964.

Barry graduated from Newton High School in 1960, and attended KU and Wichita State University, where he received a BA and MA. While at WSU, he was an officer in the Psy Chi National Honor Society and the Graduate Student Organization and was a member of the Graduate Students for School Psychological Association. He served as a graduate assistant in clinical psychology and was a clinical psychologist assistant at Wichita Guidance Center.

After graduation from WSU, he attended Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, where he was a graduate teaching intern in educational psychology and received an Ed.D. He also served in the Air Force for four years and was honorably discharged.

After graduation from OSU in 1974, Barry and his wife moved to Joplin, Mo., where he was employed by Ozark Center for several years until he went into private practice. After several years in private practice, he then returned to Ozark Center where he was employed as a psychologist at the time of his death.

Barry loved trying out new things, and during his life, his many interests involved taking sailing lessons, fly fishing, skeet shooting, playing the guitar, playing golf, reading and music. He began writing a journal to his grandson, Alex, from the time he was 4 to his current age of 12. He was looking forward to traveling when he retired and doing more of the things he loved the best.

Barry had a wonderful way about him that could make any situation seem better, and his sense of humor was a wonderful gift to all who knew him. He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved his family and delighted in seeing his grandchildren grow up.

Barry is survived by his wife of 47 years, Carol Lee (Decker); two daughters, Elizabeth Mueller (Bill) and Morgan Gjeruldsen (Kyle); and three grandchildren, Alex and Max Mueller and Ella Gjeruldsen. He also is survived by his sister, Pam Gould (Terry) of Highland Village, Texas; nephew, Barry Frank (April) of Denton, Texas; uncle, Gaylord Connor (Glenda) of Denton; uncle, Lagrand Connor of Dade City, Fla.; sister-in-law, Janice Eichler of Henderson, Nev., and Elkhorn, Idaho; brother-in-law, Paul Decker (Susan) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his special brother, Carl Nelson (Susan) of Coronado, Calif.; as well as many cousins, nephews, a niece and great-niece.

He was a wonderful husband, father and friend, and we will miss him terribly.

Memorials may be made to the Joplin School Tornado Fund, Bright Futures and Touch Point Autism Center at 1211 S. Illinois, Joplin.

There will be no formal service, but a private celebration of life party is planned for family and friends.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.

Online condolences may be made at www.parkermortuary.com.