Barbara Jean Post

Oct 14, 1942 -

Apr 15, 2025

Barbara Post passed away from natural causes Apr. 15, 2025, at Aspen Creek Senior Living surrounded by her loving family. A funeral mass will be said at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 17, at Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage.

Barbara was born Oct. 14, 1942, in Chewelah, Wash., to William "Bill" Wuesthoff and Ursula (Bowers) Wuesthoff. She grew up in the wheat farming town of Davenport, Wash. She was the middle of three sisters and grew up a swimmer in hot, arid Eastern Washington. She attended Gonzaga University and met her future husband, LeRoy Post while working at Boeing for the summer. He proposed to her six weeks after meeting. She said no initially but the two were married in September 1963, a little over a year later and moved to Alaska shortly thereafter.

She had two sons, Doug and David, and thrived as a young mother and housewife in Alaska. The family moved to California in 1971 where she finished raising her sons. She completed college at Sonoma State University in 1977 and began a 28-year career as an accountant. In 1985, she moved back to Alaska with her husband. Until 2015, she worked for the State of Alaska charitable gaming division. Accounting was a good fit given her detail-oriented nature however, after 20 years of regulating bingo, she became quite averse to the game.

Barbara was a smart, lively woman that enjoyed friends and community. She liked gardening, flowers, art and dressing well. However, being outnumbered by the men in her family, she was often alone in these pursuits. She handled her sometimes challenging sons – and husband - with grace and patience. She loved Christmas and leaves behind an extensive collection of ornaments.

Life was not without challenges but Barbara handled these with compassion and dignity. For many years, she cared for her husband Lee who died of Parkinsons and later helped her sister Mary through terminal cancer.

Community and family were important to Barbara. For many years, she was active as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Eagle River. More recently, she lived at the Thomas Center in Anchorage where she found a new community and much happiness. She looked at the brighter side of life and will be greatly missed by her family.

Barbara is survived by her sons, Doug Post of Medford, MA, his wife, Esme, and David Post of Anchorage; her grandsons, Nick Post of Anchorage and Ben Post of New York, NY; sister, Rhea Heaton of Vancouver, WA; brother-in-law, Bob Heaton; and nephews, Will Heaton of Galway Ireland and Alex and Adrian Heaton of Vancouver WA. She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy Post; and sister, Mary Wuesthoff.

Memorial bequests can be made to Holy Family in Anchorage or to the charity of your choice.