Barbara Mutz

Our kind and gentle mother, Barbara Joan Mutz, 92, passed away on March 2, 2026, at Village Green Memory Care in McKinney Texas. She was born on January 22, 1934, in Montrose Illinois to Lloyd and Irene Steger and grew up on the family farm near Montrose Illinois. Barbara attended Newton Community High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from the University of Illinois. After graduation in 1955, she taught Girls' Physical Education at Wood River High School. Barbara married Bob Mutz Sr. in 1957 and raised four children in the Rosewood Heights area. All four children attended St. Kevin's Catholic Elementary School and Roxana High School. Her husband was the owner of Midwest Carpet Company in Wood River. Barbara loved plants and gardening and earned a Certificate in Horticulture from Belleville Area College in 1988. She worked as a Master Gardener volunteer at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for many years. Barbara is survived by her four children, Mary Lee Homan (Mike), McKinney, TX; Jackie Mutz, Sante Fe, TN; Bob Mutz Jr. (Lynne), Cottonwood Heights, UT; Mike Mutz (Novella), Ogden, UT; five grandchildren, Eric Homan, Melissa Homan, Mitchell Homan, Amanda Mutz, Alison Mutz; and one sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Steger. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bob Mutz Sr., and daughter Patricia. Barbara spent the last four years of her life at Village Green Memory Care in McKinney Texas, near her daughter Mary Lee. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Angels Catholic Parish, 345 E Acton Ave, Wood River on Friday May 1 at 10:00 am. Barbara's cremains will be laid to rest at Woodland Hill Cemetery, 1239 N 6th Street, Wood River. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.