Barbara Joslin, the Kent Fire Department’s “Teddy Bear Friend,” spent nearly 10 years providing spiritual and emotional support to anyone in need with her handcrafted bears before she died from breast cancer Dec. 12.
The 74-year-old Kent resident created the teddy bears masterpieces for the department. Firefighters used them to cheer up children involved in traumatic emergencies.
“She would bring us in six, seven or eight bears every month,” Fire Chief Jim Schneider said.
According to the chief, the bears took Joslin about 30 hours to make and cost about $35. All was donated by Joslin to the department. He said she gave about 450 to the department over the past decade.
Schneider said during the past few months she only brought in two or three each month as the she became weaker from the cancer.
After she died, Schneider went to her home to meet with her husband. The chief discovered Joslin had sent many bears to fairs around the country and had taken numerous first-place awards.
In the final months of her life Schneider said she did not want anyone to know she didn’t have the strength to make the bears, so she took the ribbons off the bears that were sent to the fairs and brought them into the department.
“When I looked at the case all the ribbons were lying at the bottom of the case,” Schneider said. “She had taken the bears into the department.”
The chief said every bear played a musical theme by touching the bear’s paw and facial expressions were unique from bear to bear.
“The craftsmanship was phenomenal,” Schneider said. “Each appendage moved 360 degrees.”
The chief said he has a bear sitting on his desk along with the other department officials.
Schneider said he plans to place a case at the administrative station to display her bears. Visitors will be able to reach into the case, touch a paw and hear the musical theme.
All Kent Fire Department apparatus carry at least one “Barbara Bear” on it to hand out to any children who need an emotional boost and something soft and fuzzy to hang onto during an emergency. The bears were used at car crashes, domestic violence calls, and fires in addition to other types of incidents.
In addition to the bears made for the firefighters to hand out, Joslin gave bears for specific needs. Three and half years ago, she gave bears to the two children of Kent firefighter Marty Hauer after his line of duty death from cancer. According to Hauer’s wife, Kris, the bears gave a physical comfort to her children following his death, especially at night.
Schneider said the department shipped about 40 bears to Indonesia after the tsunami.
“She gave so much back to others,” Schneider said. “She stated many times how the department inspired her and I would always say, Barbara, you are the one that inspires all of us. Your bears bring so much joy and comfort to everyone who sees and touches one of the bears.”
A graveside service for Joslin was Dec. 15 at Hillcrest Burial Park in Kent.
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