Barbara Fay Klang

MADISON - Barbara F. Klang, age 90, of Madison, Wis., passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at her residence in Chamomile Assisted Living. She lived a great life and passed away peacefully in her sleep. Barb was born on April 17, 1934, in Sauk City, Wis., to Delbert and Olive (Crary) Squires.

Barb is survived by her children, Jerry (Jackie) Falch, Sherry Buckley, and Tom (Denise) Falch; as well as her sister, Ardyce “Ardy” Weichbrod. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Jon (Stacey) Falch, Sam (Art) Post, Katie (Kingsley) Campbell, Cole (Craig) Erickson, Tiffany (Bobby) Helley, T.J. Falch and Tabitha Falch; 18 great-grandchildren, Dominic, Alaska, Aspen and Brison Falch; Bailey, Will, Lexi, Matt and Josh Post; Desiree, Kaylee Barbara, and Krew Campbell; Riley Erickson; Peyton and Isabelle Helley; Maren, Gillian and Clay Falch; and one great-great- grandchild, Marley Bromiley. Other survivors include brothers-in-law Bill Quinn and Harlan Alt; and many many nieces and nephews. Some of those nieces and nephews are still debating who Barb’s favorite was.

Barb was born into a large and loving family. She was the fourth of nine children born to Delbert and Olive. She lived with her family in Sauk City and Spring Green before they settled permanently in Lone Rock, Wis. She graduated from Lone Rock High School in 1953.

After high school, Barb was very proud to work, for 17 years, at Oscar Mayer, in Madison, where she met Dwayne Falch from South Dakota. They married in September 1954 in Lone Rock. After Barb and Dwayne divorced she kept in close contact with his family in South Dakota. The South Dakota family loved Barb and the kids and looked forward to their visits, always welcoming them with loving arms.

In November 1972 she married Paul Klang in Dubuque, Iowa. Paul and Barb were married on that date alongside her sister, Rosy to Harlan Alt.

Barbara also worked at Central Colony and then with many great friends at Douglas Stewart Company. One of her grandchildren works at Douglas Stewart Company today. Barb was known for always being in a good mood, having a smile, and enjoying a good laugh. She was a very kind and loving person who made friends easily and was always a willing helper. If someone was ill or needed help in any way she just showed up and did whatever needed to be done. That was a blessing to many.

Barb always enjoyed reading and cooking. She was a great cook and was very well known for her banana bread. She always seemed to be baking banana bread and loved giving it to others. Barb also loved dogs (especially her poodles, Peety and Pootsy, cardinals, red roses, and sometimes a small drink of Hot Sex (a chocolate cocktail beverage) and she got a kick out of the jokes that were made of her having Hot Sex with different people. Once, at a wedding reception, everyone in attendance enjoyed sharing "Hot Sex" with Grandma Barb.

Barb didn't love anything more than she loved spending time with all her extended family. You never knew who was going to show up for an impromptu Sunday gathering in Lone Rock. There was often quite a crowd, and everyone was always welcome. No invitation was needed. "The more the merrier, we will just water down the soup." The family cherished celebrating several of her "milestone" birthdays at VFW 8483 in Madison. We estimate there were more than 200 people, both family and friends, at her 90th birthday party last April. There will never be any doubt that Barb was very well loved by many.

Barb enjoyed traveling and retirement gave her the opportunity to jump in a car, or motorhome, sometimes even a plane to vacation in Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, California, Texas, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Missouri, and Florida.

But Barb's greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and now her great-great-granddaughter. She would gladly babysit whenever she could and enjoyed going on extended family vacations. There are countless stories the Grands tell of the adventures they had with Grandma Barb and what they did when they were with her. They all thought she was the absolute best. And she was! The family sometimes took her outside of her comfort zone and she willingly went along. Hey, who says a grandma can't go on a four-wheeler? Barb did! The Grandkids also tell countless stories about how much Grandma Barb loved to have her hair brushed and would let them brush and style her hair seemingly endlessly. Of course, styling her hair meant dozens of plastic bow shaped hair clips and those horrid ponytail holders (with two hard balls) that they added to her well brushed hair. And let's not forget nap time. There isn't a Grandkid who didn't, at least once, have Barb volunteer to take a nap with them that resulted in Barb napping and them sneaking out on her. And Barb always made everyone smile when posing for family pictures when she asked them to say "birdshit" instead of "cheese" for the camera.

Barb moved into Chamomile Assisted Living in Madison in May 2024 and it was a great move for her. The owner and the aids gave her such good care and loved having her there and hearing her stories. All of the people who supported her from Interim Hospice as well as ICare also gave her kind and loving care and made life much easier for her. The family is thankful for each and every one of them. Shortly after she moved to Chamomile, she hung a picture of "Brother Butch" wearing a cowboy hat (he was an actual cowboy) in her living room. She had a good laugh telling people that the picture was of her cowboy boyfriend. She loved having her family visit her at Chamomile, but we also suspected she most enjoyed it when the family dogs went to visit her.

Barb was preceded in death by both of her parents; as well as her two husbands, Duwane Falch and Paul Klang; siblings, Dale Squires, Bev James, Bob Squires, Douglas Squires, Joyce Quinn, Rosy Alt and Sheridan (Butch) Squires; and in-laws, Inez Falch, Keith James, Paul Weichbrod and Dee Squires.

Her children found the following that they feel describes their mom perfectly and wanted to share it with everyone:

My Mom Was a Miracle Worker

With little money she always managed to put clean clothes on me, take a few cans of food and make it seem like a feast, squeeze her budget so she could buy me that thing I just had to have, be my nurse, teacher, counselor, cook, maid, and friend and still greet the world with a smile. Others may have had more money than we did, but no one had a better mother. - Author unknown.

Barb, Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mom, Grandma Barb, Great Grandma Barb, Aunt Barb, Mean Old Aunt Barb, Booby Barb and Friend are all names she went by. We know she is in a better place but every one of us will spend the rest of our lives missing her. Don't worry Barb -you are in our hearts forever and we will share great stories about you until the end of time.

The family invites everyone to join them in celebrating Barb's wonderful life at GUNDERSON CAMACHO BLACK EARTH FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1710 Center St., Black Earth, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon on Friday, March 21, 2025. A graveside committal will immediately follow the service at Button Cemetery (near Lone Rock) in Buena Vista, Wis. After the conclusion of the cemetery committal, at approximately 1:30 p.m. a celebration of life service and luncheon will follow.

BARB'S FAMOUS BANANA NUT BREAD

At the request of one of the Grandkids, Barb wrote out the recipe for her famous banana bread. Barb thought the recipe came from the Lone Rock Congregational Church cookbook, 1960. This is exactly like she wrote it.

1 CUP SUGAR

1/2 CUP SHORTENING (l use oil)

2 EGGS

1/2 CUP SOUR MILK (l use IT vinegar in the ½ C Milk)

3 LARGE BANANAS, MASHED

2 CUPS FLOUR

1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

1 CUP NUTS-CHOPPED

1 TEASPOON VANILLA

Cream sugar & oil together. Add eggs & bananas. Sift dry ingredients & add soda, BP & mix in nuts and vanilla. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Check with a toothpick.

I made 2 or 3 times.

Couldn't make in Great Granma house, she was like Katie.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Camacho Black Earth

Funeral & Cremation Care
1710 Center St.
(608) 767-3684