In Memory

Barry Fiedler

Barry Fiedler

Barry L. Fiedler, 69, died suddenly on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, while vacationing in Sun Valley, Idaho. Barry was born July 7, 1942, in Newton, Kan., son of the late William F. Fiedler and Geraldine E. Connor.  

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 Carol 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.  

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

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 is also 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.  Barry was a wonderful husband, father and friend and we will miss him terribly.

The video that was played at the “Celebration of Barry’s Life” party is on YouTube. Go to youtube.com and enter Barry Fiedler in the search box. Be sure your computer volume is turned up to enjoy some great accompanying music!

Memorials may be made in honor of Barry Fiedler to:

Touchpoint Autism Center http://www.touchpointautism.org 417-781-3616 1211 S. Illinois Joplin, MO 64801

Bright Futures: http://brightfuturesjoplin.org Phone: 417-625-5200 C/O North Middle School 102 N. Gray Joplin, MO 64801

The Joplin School Tornado Relief Fund PO Box 8 Joplin, Mo 64802