Barbara Ann (Junkins) Grantham

Barbara Ann (Junkins) Grantham, 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, leaving behind a rich legacy of love and family history. Born on March 3, 1941 in Saint Louis to Cecil and Mary Lou Junkins, she developed a love of family with her sister Cheryl, a joy in camping and traveling, and a lifelong passion for genealogy, a pursuit of that became more than a hobby—it was a calling.
She served many years as a pediatric and oncology nurse in Springfield. She spent countless hours tracing her family’s roots, piecing together the lives of ancestors and illuminating the forgotten stories of past generations. She found immense joy in the detective work of genealogy, meticulously examining historical records, navigating through census data, and connecting with distant relatives to expand the ever-growing family tree.
She is survived by her beloved husband Bill of 63 years; sisters Cheryl Hartman; Penny Kreul (Kuper); brother Kirk Grantham (Brooke); grandchildren; as well as countless great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews,and friends.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, at Brookline Cemetery. In lieu of the flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Christian Church of Republic.