Barbara J. Mahnke, 85, of Sheboygan, was welcomed into the arms of her Saviour on Thursday, December 23, 2021, surrounded by her family.
Born July 12, 1936 in Sheboygan, Barbara was the daughter of Alex and Julia Knaub Dann. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church. She attended St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Central High School in 1954. Barbara married her beloved, Jack Mahnke, in 1956 and cherished 54 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on April 26, 2010.
Barbara’s love of music lead her to sing with the Sweet Adeline’s, the Sheboygan Civic Chorus, Community Players, Girl Scouts, The First Initials Quartet, Barb Le Tom Trio, and sang with St. Paul’s and Our Saviors Lutheran church choirs from 1945 to the time of death.
Barbara and Jack moved to Lakewood in 1976 and were owners of the North Star Motel for 25 years. She was a devoted church member at St. John’s Lutheran Church and sang with the choir. She volunteered to sing and play guitar for the residents at NuRoc Nursing Home. Barbara was an active member with the Lioness Club in Lakewood. She sang with her cousin, Tom Dekanich, and her friend Art Heinkle as the Par 3 at McCauslin Brook Golf and Country Club for 30 years. Barbara loved to sing, harmonize, and play her guitar for the enjoyment of others. She treasured her love letters from Jack and read them often since his passing. Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, to whom she passed down her love of music.
She is survived by her daughters, Sue (special friend, Mark LaRoux) Bochte, Nancy Hampson, and Mary Beth (Ron) Wilde, all of Green Bay, WI; her grandchildren, Matthew (Tricia) Bochte, Steven Bochte, Chrystal (fiancé Jeff Delfosse) Hampson, and Abigail (Alex) Baldschun; great grandchildren, Anna Beth, Jullian, Natalie, Ava, Aria, and Jackson; special nephews, Dave, Mike, Rich, and Tom; three special nieces, Ellen, Jayne, and Laura; as well as special aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Besides her parents and husband, Jack, she was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, James and MaryAnn “Mickey” Dann and Jack’s sister and brother-in-law, LaVerne and Gerry Hase, her son-in-law John Bochte, as well as many treasured aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Visitation at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 917 Mead Avenue, Sheboygan, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. with funeral service to follow on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Barbara will be laid to rest with her beloved, Jack, at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Barbara’s name.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of Pine Haven, Sage Meadow, and Aurora at Home Hospice for their excellent care and compassion.
“Our mom was one of a kind.”
The Olson Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Barbara’s arrangements.
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