Barbara Kay Stegnach Ziegner, 71, of Greenwood, passed away peacefully the evening of June 25, 2026.

Born on June 29, 1954, in Glen Park (Gary), IN, to loving parents Gilbert and Jane (Macke) Stegnach, Barbara was beautiful in every aspect of life. Her intellect, creativity, and compassion were loved by everyone who knew her.

As a young girl, Barbara, was a child model in the Chicagoland area modeling for Marshall Field’s in The Walnut Room, department store style magazines, and Sunday newspaper layouts. Her childhood was spent visiting her relatives in Chicago and shopping along State Street with her mother and sister. Barbara developed her love of style and fashion from her early days modeling. Her interior design sense came from her Dad owning a furniture store and going to furniture shows at The Merchandise Mart.

Before settling in Indianapolis in the seventies, her parents moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Barbara spent two years in Phoenix before transferring and graduating from Southport High School. She attended Indiana University where she received her B.S. in Political Science and Journalism. Barbara was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority, and participated in many campus social activities. She later received her M.S. in Secondary Education from IU, followed by her masters degree in Social Studies from IU Indianapolis.

She began her career at the Indiana Legislative Services Agency writing newly adopted legislative bills for the Indiana General Assembly. With her love of history and government, she spent 38 years teaching Social Studies at Stoneybrook Middle School in Warren Township. Her family was always her first passion. She loved cooking, gardening, family holidays, vacations, and shopping and running errands with her beloved daughter.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 46 years David, attorney and Commissioner of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, her daughter Jennifer Jane, and son-in-law, Andrew Cable. Sister, Cheryl Stegnach McManama, nieces, Megan Jane and Amy Marie McManama, sister-in-law, Anne (Tom) Gillem, niece, Bethany Anne (Theo) Gillem, and several cousins, colleagues and friends.

Proceeding her in death were her parents, Gilbert and Jane Stegnach, grandparents, Ralph and Helen Brcin, Everett and Ruth Macke, in-laws, Edward and Martha Ziegner, brother-in-law, David McManama, and several aunts and uncles.

Entombment will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens on Friday, July 10, 2026. The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM followed by a service and burial. Flowers may be contributed, or memorial contributions may be sent to the Warren Arts & Education Foundation at warrenfoundation.org