Barbara Ellen (Macklin) Krysztof

Barbara Ellen Krysztof, 86, of Baldwin City, KS passed away on September 2, 2025 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law.  Born January 3, 1939 in Garnett, Kansas, the fourth of five daughters of Alva and Edith (Britton) Macklin. 

Barbara was raised on a farm west of Garnett with her 4 sisters.  Barbara graduated from Garnett High School with the class of 1956 where she was active in Student Council, FHA, Pep Club, a cappella and vocal music.  Following graduation she moved to Topeka, Kansas and worked for Hallmark cards and then the State of Kansas until she moved to Lawrence, KS and started working for the University of Kansas.  She left KU after the birth of her first child and later rejoined the work force at Lawrence Memorial Hospital developing X-rays. 

She married her High School sweetheart, Stanley Paul Krysztof on April 6, 1957.  Together they raised two children.  In 1961, Barbara, and her family, moved to California to pursue job opportunities.  There she held clerical positions at Rocketdyne, Hydraulic Research and eventually as a school receptionist at her children’s schools in Simi Valley, CA.  In 1973 she returned with her family to Kansas, and quickly settled in Baldwin City.  There she was employed at Baker University and the Baldwin Telegraphics newspaper.  She and her husband started K & K Grinding & Machine in 1977 where she was the office manager and helped as a machine operator when called upon.  She retired from this position in 2012. 

Barbara, when she wasn’t busy attending her family’s sports activities, enjoyed many hobbies and crafts throughout her life.  Those included painting, needlepoint, sewing and quilting, which she learned from her mother, at a young age.  Barbara has shared many hand sewn quilts, table runners and wall hangings with her family and friends and they will be forever cherished.  She also loved her flower gardens and watching the birds.  She enjoyed the Royals, Chiefs and Jayhawks basketball, as well as, celebrating holidays and birthdays with her children and their families, which included her six granddaughters and twenty great-grandchildren.  And, no matter where they all lived, she maintained a close friendship with her four sisters.  Barbara was a member of the Worden Church and was active in the Worden Church Ladies Group. 

She is survived by her two children, Debbie (Scott) Riles, Thousand Oaks, CA, and Steve (Lori) Krysztof, Baldwin City, KS.  Her six granddaughters, Kim (Eric) Sachs, Newbury Park, CA, Whitney (Kacy) Reed, Ventura, CA, Katie (Martin) Delaney, Colorado Springs, CO, Emily (Ty) Burgoon, Linwood, KS, Brianna (Dimitri) Mayes, Houston, TX, Michaela (Christian) Heitschmidt, Bushton, KS, and her twenty great-grandchildren, Ben, Jack, Willow, Autumn, Max, Carley, Ellie, Henry, Sawyer, Joslyn, Brynlee, Maisey, Meryck, Sylvia, Alonso, James Lynn, Lenora, Everly, Rhett, Porter, and her sisters Norma Lister of Topeka, Glenna (Edward) Maxey of Overland Park and Louise Oliver of Osawatomie. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Paul, on September 21, 2012 after sharing 55 years of marriage together.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, Edward James, and her oldest sister, Lenora Kathleen. 

A Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5th at Worden Cornerstone Church with funeral services on Saturday September 6th at 10:00 a.m. at Worden Cornerstone Church, 294 E 900 Rd, Baldwin City, KS.  Burial will follow at Sutton Cemetery, 1200 N 300 Rd, Baldwin City, KS. 

Memorial Contributions may be made to Worden Cornerstone Church and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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