Barbara Bohlman

Barbara Bohlman, age 87, went peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on December 30, 2024.

Barbara E. Jarmuz was born March 29, 1938, in Milwaukee, WI to Frank and Emily (Williams) Jarmuz; she was the middle child of three, with an older sister Joan and a younger brother Tommy. When Barbara was just 14-years old, her mother Emily fell ill with cancer forcing Barbara to grow up quick; Barbara was charged with all household responsibilities including cooking and raising her younger brother Tommy until Emily recovered. As therapy for Emily’s recovery, the family started a greenhouse business, growing flowers year round which ignited Barbara’s passion for gardening. In her late teens, Barbara took to racing cars (dropping a few transmissions along the way!) her favorite was her ‘56 Chevy decked out in a Continental kit. She graduated from Rufus High School in Milwaukee in 1956 and began classes at Marquette University.

Barbara’s desire to travel overrode her college aspirations; her first big trip was to Spain with a friend followed by many road trips across the United States. Barbara worked in Purchasing for JC Penny’s and when a position opened up in Southern California, Barbara headed west moving to Culver City. While working for JC Penney’s, Barbara’s beauty and svelte figure earned her the spot of cover girl on the first ever JC Penney’s mail order catalog. Shortly thereafter she married Warren Bohlman (Steven’s Point, WI), and they had two children, Chris and Camille. While raising their family in Woodland Hills, CA, they created Diversified Computer Consultants - Barbara was the Contracts Administrator. Diversified was a government contractor installing computer rooms primarily for the US Army and US Marine Corps. In the 1980s, Diversified installed the first computer room in the Math Building at the Beijing Institute of Technology. Barbara was an honored guest of the People’s Republic of China, attending many formal dinners and events. She even climbed the Great Wall of China! Barbara loved to travel, she loved to see new places and have new experiences. She traveled to Japan, Europe and India; in India she visited the Taj Mahal. Diversified was dissolved in the 1990s – collateral damage from a broken marriage – and Barbara went to work for Corning in Orange County, working on the Hubbell Telescope project, the same Hubbell Telescope that is in orbit today! Upon retiring, Barbara returned to the LA area, invented a rose shear lovingly named RoseMate and taught art to veterans at the West Los Angeles Vet Center. She moved to Lake Havasu City in September 2023 to be closer to her daughter. Barbara loved painting, gardening, baking, her family, animals and Jesus Christ. She was a devout Catholic, free spirit, bold and brave, with a big heart and caring soul. She will be missed terribly.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Camille (Steve Dekold) Carr, son Chris (Joy) Bohlman and their children, brother Tom (Joan Nelson) Jarmuz and Joan’s children, her sister Joan (Glenn) Dumke and their children, and her adorable fur baby Harley.