Barbara Lee Robinson

Barbara died peacefully in her home on July 2, 2026, age 98, surrounded by her loving family and her poodle, Bailey, her best friend. She was a loving and fiercely devoted mother to her three children, Patty, Steven, and Ruthie, and was a beloved Mamaw to her grandchildren, John, Adrienne, and Grace.

Born in Rockford on August 8, 1927, Barbara graduated from Winnebago High School, before attending nursing school at Rockford Memorial Hospital, graduating as an RN in1948. She worked for many years as a nurse, primarily for the Visiting Nurses Association. She married the love of her life; Kenneth Robinson on February 26, 1949, in Burritt Township. They were married for 60 years. They had a wonderful life and lived in the Winnebago/Rockford area for many years on a dairy farm before moving to Wisconsin, Maryland, Colorado, Texas, and Ohio before coming back home to Illinois to retire in Stillman Valley. She was a great homemaker and loved her home and her family beyond measure. She was strong and determined to the end.

Barbara and Ken enjoyed square dancing across the country for many years, reaching high levels of Challenge dancing. Barbara always enjoyed country living and had a deep love for all animals, but especially horses and dogs. She loved gardening and for many years grew a large vegetable garden, canning, pickling and freezing her produce! She loved flowers, whether to receive a bouquet or those that she grew. She cherished trees and planted many throughout her life. She recited the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer in grade school and remembered and recited it all her life. She was unable to go down the road in the car without reciting the poem whenever she saw a beautiful tree. She was a steadfast advocate for horses. She deeply loved her Arabian "Shalzar" as well as many others. She was still jumping horses at the age of 65 and then continued to trail ride Shalzar until her early 80s. She would frequently ride down along the river with her granddaughter, Adrienne. She went to the barn and groomed her horses religiously until she was 94. She was a dog lover and adored her best friend Bailey and many others throughout her lifetime. She loved her grandchildren and left many memories for them to cherish. Her great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Caden were a great joy to her, late in her life. She was loved beyond measure and will be dearly missed.

She is predeceased by her parents William and Clara (Gaston), Hilton, her loving husband Kenneth Robinson, and her sister Lois Haseman. Survived by her daughter Patricia Nicolosi, son Steven (Beth) Robinson, and daughter Ruth (Claire Hilliker) Robinson; grandchildren John (Traci) Nicolosi, Adrienne (Ivan) Kelenc, Grace (Curtis) Crosby, and great-grandchildren Charlotte Kelenc and Caden Crosby.

A special thank you to Peak Medical Home Care for many years of care, in particular Sarah Hoyle, Christy McCoy and Linda Tate. Barbara loved her time with these ladies, many scrabble games, puzzles and the "Love Nature" tv program. Special, caring ladies. Linda, we believe, helped guide her home at the end. A big thank you to Mercyhealth Hospice for their help and guidance in navigating this difficult time.

Per her wishes there will be no service, only a family graveside burial at the Mouth of Stillman Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Gentle Giants Horse Rescue, 17250 Old Frederick Rd, Mount Airy, MD 21771, or plant a tree in her memory and recite the poem below.

Trees

by Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.