Barbara "Barb" Ruth Balling, age 73 of Maryville, IL, peacefully passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in O'Fallon, IL.

She was born in Evergreen Park, IL on December 20, 1948, to the late Leroy and Marian ( nee Volpe) Steffens.  She married Edward "Ed" A. Balling on November 9, 1974, and they had one daughter, Erin.

Barb was a retired registered nurse.  She worked at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City for over 20 years.  She was a natural caretaker, a caring person, and was a fantastic nurse to the end.  She had a great sense of humor, enjoyed musicals, loved spending time in Minnesota with her family, traveling the East Coast with Erin, and was a proud Grandma.

Barb was active in her community.  She was a member of Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Maryville, a former Girl Scout leader, and helped start the Market Day program at St. John Neumann Catholic School.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, LeRoy Steffens; a sister, Susan Johnson; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Dorothy and Rich Viravec.

She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Ed Balling; beloved daughter, Erin (John) Helzer of Longmont, CO; beloved grandson, Nathan Blake Helzer; two brothers:  Thomas "Steff" (Linda) Steffens of Fifty Lakes, MN and Gary (Janet) Steffens of Wheatfield, IN; three sisters:  Carol (Larry) Wasil of Dyer, IN, Cyndi (Mike) Mischke of Romeoville, IL and Nancy (Michael) Roe of Lansing, IL; brother-in-law, Robert Johnson of Dyer, IN; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Glenn) Johnson, Jim (Mary) Balling; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be 4 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at Barry Wilson Funeral Home, Maryville, IL.

Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 200 N. Lange, Maryville, IL 62062 with Father Pat Jakel celebrant.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Edwardsville, IL.

Memorials may be made in Barb's honor to St. Jude Children's Hospital and will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to the funeral home at 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.