Barbara Ann (Kautz) Hinkel

Barbara Ann Kautz Hinkel, age 78, of Dundas, Illinois passed away at 4:09 pm on Thursday October 17, 2024 at Carle (Richland Memorial) Hospital in Olney, Illinois.

Visitation for friends and family will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney, followed by a funeral service.

Memorials may be made to the Home Extension Association of Richland County or the SWAN association of Richland County.

Barbara was born July 25, 1946, in Olney, Illinois, the daughter of Daniel Ray and Ruth (Stiff) Kautz.

She graduated from Newton Community High School with the class of 1964 where she was active in the Newton Eagles band, still playing her flute into her 70’s and then playing for years in the United Methodist Bell Choir in Olney, Illinois. She then graduated from Olney Central College and then Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in business education.

Barbara was united in marriage to Galen Hinkel on July 24, 1965. They were happily married for 59 years and lived most of their lives on their farm in Dundas.

Barbara started working at Richland Memorial Hospital in 1974 as an administrative secretary and then moved into infection control/risk management and then into human resources before fully retiring in 2011 after 44 years.

Barbara was an active member of the HEA in Richland County, SWAN Board, mentoring of Richland County, Friends of the library, Quilt Guild, Volunteer at RMH and a good Samaritan.

Barbara enjoyed spending time with an expansive family of siblings, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and grand dogs, grand cats and grand turtle. She also enjoyed quilting with her sisters, playing cards with friends, mentoring others and listening to music. She always enjoyed singing and dancing along to 50’s and 60’s music.

She was a strong woman who cared about others, her community and her faith, being a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church and then Emmanual Church in Olney.

Barbara is survived by her loving Husband Galen; Children Cara Hinkel-Schroth (David) and their family of pets of Olney, Illinois; Troy Hinkel (Cheryl) of Saint Joseph, Illinois and their son Nathan, daughter Thea and pets; Todd Hinkel and family of Fort Branch, Indiana; Sisters Sara (Don) Helregel of Lexington, Kentucky, Nancy Parker of Olney, Illinois.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother Madalin, brother Ray and brother Michael Kautz along with her brother-in-law Dick Parker (Nancy) and Ethel Kautz (Ray).