Barbara Ann Saunders

Barbara Ann Saunders, 83, of Malone, WI, passed away peacefully from Alzheimer’s Disease on June 11, 2021, at Harbor Haven Health and Rehabilitation in Fond du Lac, WI, where she resided for nearly two years. Barb spent her final days surrounded by her loving family and her music. Barb was born on March 25, 1938, to Swiss immigrants August and Louise (Hilfiker) Mader on the family Centerville Cheese Factory near Cambria, WI, where she and her older siblings Tom, Bernice and Dick grew up. Barb was proud of her Swiss and cheesemaking heritage. Barb spoke fondly of attending the Prairie School, a one-room school in rural Cambria, through eighth grade. She graduated from Cambria High School in 1956. Barb was a talented musician. She was in chorus, band and accompanied vocalists on piano. Clad in her drum majorette uniform and with her baton a-twirling, Barb led the Cambria high school marching band in parades and other band functions. Barb married Frank Saunders in 1957, and they moved from Cambria to Sheboygan, WI shortly thereafter. They provided a wonderful family life for their kids, Mike and Patti, full of laughter, wit and occasional spirited family competitions of badminton and board games. She and Frank were always there for their kids and grandkids. Barb offered her kids counsel, solicited or otherwise. Mike and Patti were lucky to have Barb as their mom, as her feistiness along with her love and devotion toward her family helped shape them into the adults and parents they are today. To know Barb was to love Barb. She was a salty gal, had a great sense of humor and freely spoke her mind. Barb stood strong in her liberal beliefs while remaining a faithful Catholic. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. Her congenial, outgoing personality suited her well to work in customer service for 25 years at the Kohl’s Department Store in Sheboygan. Music remained an important part of Barb’s life. She could break out in song at any moment, and if you were lucky, she would favor you with a dance. She listened to a variety of genres and artists, from opera to rock n’ roll, Pavarotti to Buddy Holly, and everything and everybody else in between. After they retired, Barb and Frank moved to their home on Lake Winnebago near Pipe, WI. Lake life included fishing, boat rides and visits from their kids, grandkids, other family and friends. Barb loved to relax on the deck, have a glass of wine and watch Frank fish off the pier in the sunset. Better yet, she loved to eat the walleye and perch Frank caught just for his Babs. Those left to cherish happy memories of Barb include her devoted and loving husband of nearly 64 years, Frank, of Lake Winnebago/Malone; her son Mike (Laura) of Madison, WI, and their children Sydney, of Minneapolis, MN, and Mason, of Madison; and her daughter, Patti and her son Eric Bosch, of Sheboygan Falls, WI. She is further survived by in-laws Lola Mader, Cambria; Bill and Sandee Saunders, Richland, WA; Mary Jane (Joel) Winter, Cambria; and Jim Saunders, Prairie du Sac, WI. Barb also leaves behind cousins, nieces and nephews scattered across the United States. Greeting her in heaven with a Swiss “gritzi!" and a yodel are her parents, August and Louise; siblings Tom, Bernice Hausinger, and Dick. Barb is also pre-deceased by her father- and mother in-law, William and Angela Saunders; siblings in-law Audrey Mader, Joe Hausinger, Philip (Marion) Saunders and Beverly Saunders Golfinos; and nephew Scott Saunders and niece Karen Hausinger Lay. SERVICE: A Catholic funeral mass for Barb will be held at 11:00am on Monday, June 28, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Church, N9288 Hwy W, Malone, WI https://holylandcatholicparishes.org/. Father Gary Wegner, OFM Capuchin, Pastor will officiate. VISITATION: Is on the same day prior to the mass, 9:00am-10:45am, at the church. Barb’s family offers its heart-felt thanks and appreciation to the staff at Harbor Haven for the care and companionship they gave Barb. The COVID pandemic literally separated Barb from her family for over a year; yet Harbor Haven found ways to keep Barb and her family connected, for which the family is grateful. The family also extends a special thanks to Agnesian Hospice Hope for their compassionate care of Barb in her final days. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. In lieu of flowers, the Saunders family asks that you take action to join the fight against Alzheimer’s with a tribute gift in memory of Barbara Saunders to The Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/. Or, make a contribution to a charity of your choice. Kurki Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Fond du Lac, is serving the Saunders family. Please visit https://www.kurkifuneralchapel.com/ for more information and to offer online condolences.

Barbara Ann Saunders

March 25, 1938 - June 11, 2021