Barbara Jean (Haenggi) Gullick, 70, of Marissa, Ill., died at 1:56 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2011, at Alton Memorial Hospital, Alton, after battling complications from diabetes for more than five months.

She was born Aug. 15, 1940 in Richland County at the family farm home, five and a half miles southeast of Olney. Parents were Louis Joseph and Anna Maggie (nee Gebhard) Haenggi. Barbara was the fourth of six siblings.

Barbara graduated from East Richland High School, Olney, in 1959. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and History from McKendree College in Lebanon, becoming the first person in her family to earn a college degree. Barbara married William Allen Gullick on Oct. 8, 1960 at Calhoun, Ill. United Methodist Church.

She was a retired English teacher who began her career as a sixth grade teacher at Mascoutah Elementary. She then taught English for the remainder of her career at Mascoutah High School, Belleville East High School, Lovington High School, Bunker Hill High School, and Marissa High School. She was dedicated to doing whatever she could to help students achieve academic success and reach their greatest potential. Barbara especially enjoyed teaching senior level English literature. She was a member of the United Methodist Church from her early youth. She was a devout Methodist and enjoyed lively hymns sung with vigor that lifted the spirit.

She is survived by a sister, Kathryn Lou Haenggi Robinett of Leesburg, Va.; three daughters, Janine Gullick (Greg) Bridenbaugh of Edwardsville, Hillary Lorraine Gullick of Marissa, Ill. and Katherine Blythe Gullick of Gilberts, Ill.; two very dear grandchildren, Emily Gullick Bridenbaugh and Andrew Gullick Bridenbaugh. She was preceded in death by four siblings, Herman Haenggi, Velma Anna Haenggi Williams, Harold Louis Haenggi, and Mary Amelia Haenggi Thompson; and her husband William Allen Gullick in November 2008.

Services at Weber and Rodney Funeral Home in Edwardsville with the Rev. Ivan Horn, Pastor of Friedan's United Church of Christ in Hecker, Ill. officiating. Interment at College Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.