Barbara JoAn Touslee

Barbara JoAn Wolf Touslee was born August 8,1934, to Frank and Faye Wolf of Colby Kansas and died September 1, 2025, at the age of 91.

She grew up in a Colby house where the old community building used to sit. Her early school life was spent bicycling back and forth from school for lunch at her folk's grocery store. Being the youngest of six kids (four were boys), she grew tough skin. “My brother Sam was ornery, and my second toe is longer ‘cause he pulled it often. He and I fashioned slingshots with rubber bands and clothes pins then would jump around store feed sacks while shooting paper wads at each other.”

Barbara took part in cheerleading and band (snare drum). She graduated from Colby High School in 1952. Secretarial work, mostly at Thomas County National Bank then Insurance Agency, helped pay the bills as she and husband Delbert (HS sweetheart) raised four kids. Barbara semi-retired at age 75 and fully at age 80. But throughout her life, hobbies included refurbishing furniture with her sister Ferma, sprucing up kitchen cabinets with streaks of stain, and keeping up with her kids’/grandkids’/kids’ friend’s many sports and music activities.

Oh, and she collected shoes. “I had grown up poor with only one pair of shoes a year. So, when I started working, I swore I'd have as many as I could…even 3-inch heels.”

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and all siblings, Lee, Neil, Dale, Ferma (Shull), and Sam Wolf…and recently, her oldest living niece Cheryl Wolf Powell. Barbara is survived by Delbert, daughter Traci (of Colby), sons Darrell and Darren (of Great Bend and Hays), and daughter Darcy (of College Station Texas). Barbara had nine grandchildren (Taranie Bardel, Shane, Chad, Liz, Ryan, Hannah, Will, Hattie Faye, Lesley) and three great grands (Tristan, Cooper, and Elly Louise). Barbara enjoyed Colby High School reunions and is considered a staple of Colby. Her kids and their pals hail her 1900s chocolate pie, and cheekiness, and tumbleweed Christmas tree. Her grandkids recall the one “just chillin” time she rode in the front passenger seat with her feet on the dashboard!

A memorial service and dessert fellowship will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Gathering Place, 745 S Country Club Dr, Colby. Burial will take place at a later date in Beulah Cemetery. Barbara used to say, “Charity begins at home” and requested memorials be made to the Thomas County Community Foundation for the CHS Alumni and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com