Kayla Jean Barker's Obituary
Kayla Barker, nee Selbach, age 53 passed away to Heaven on January 12, 2024. Kayla was born on January 10th, 1971, to Karen & Gordy Selbach. Kayla grew up in Oshkosh and spent the majority of her life there. She graduated from Oshkosh West High School in 1989. She married Russ Barker in 2002.
Directly after high school, Kayla attended Fox Valley Technical College and earned her associate degree in Occupational Therapy. After working in the medical field, she subsequently earned a degree as a Registered Nurse. She worked on the Physical Rehabilitation unit at Theda Clark Regional Medical Center and thoroughly enjoyed being an RN.
Kayla loved people & talking with them no matter who they were. She was known to hug, console, compliment, energize and motivate everyone she met. She was soft-hearted and nonjudgmental and wanted to brighten others days. She would send random handwritten letters and cards to friends, acquaintances and family members with kind words, encouragement and compliments. She was a knowledgeable sports fan and of course, loved her Green Bay Packers. She enjoyed board games, cards, cribbage, following extreme weather, travelling, donating to various charities and family time. She loved going to the family cottage in Amherst, WI to relax and enjoyed watching her children play. Kayla had an extreme love of the English language, and therefore, reading and writing were very important to her. Kayla, above all, loved to laugh!
Survivors include her husband, Russ, her daughter, Brooke, her son, Bradan, her father Gordy Selbach, her brother, Doug Selbach, a sister Jenni (Paul) Geffers and their children. Other family members include her in-laws, Lori (Mark) Bray, Stan (Sheila) Barker, Alan (Kate) Barker along with their children and spouses.
She is further survived by aunts and uncles, Norm Krause, Art Selbach, Susie Schreiner, Kathy (Jerry) Akstulewicz, who along with their families, were very dear to her. She is also survived by her good friends, Dawn Seitz Kemps, Jill Nessman Brault and Christa Godersky Karrels along with godmother, Judy Harris. Goddaughter, Carissa Geffers.
Kayla was preceded in death by her mother, Karen Selbach, all of her grandparents, Norm & Lucille Krause, and Harry & Stella Selbach. A mother-in-law and father-in-law, Pat & Ken Barker. Three aunts, Nona Selbach, Helga Krause & Carol Krause, and uncle, Dean Schreiner.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11 am at St. Raphaels Catholic Church at 830 S. Westhaven Drive. Oshkosh, WI 54904. Father Quinn Mann will be the celebrant. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30 am until the time of Mass.
Committal services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. Mother Teresa.
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