Barbara Ann Weidanz

MADISON - Barbara Ann Weidanz, née Holmberg, formerly of Dresher, Pa., and Verona, Wis., passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at the age of 83.

Barbara was born on July 1, 1938, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Karl Albert and Edborg (née Nilson) Holmberg. She was baptized into the Christian faith on Nov. 13, 1938, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Brooklyn, N.Y., and later confirmed her faith on April 6, 1952, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fairlawn, N.J., where she also married William Paul Weidanz on June 11, 1960.  

After graduating from Fair Lawn High School in 1956, Barbara went on to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., in 1960 and her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., in 1985.

Barbara taught for over 20 years and devoted her life to serving others, particularly children. Barbara believed that each child deserved a quality pre-school experience and used her training and her talents to develop pre-school programs for three- and four-year-old children. She volunteered her time as director and lead teacher to the Gateway Preschool in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.  Barbara also organized a Life Skills and English program to help immigrating mothers learn about American culture and improve their English language skills so that they could adapt more easily to their new life in the United States.

Family and faith were extremely important to her.  Barbara was a stay-at-home mom until her six children were in school. Firm but compassionate, Barbara valued spending time with her family, particularly her many grandchildren, and taught them all the value of hard work and self-accountability. She will be remembered as a loving mother and guide, as well as a generous and encouraging grandmother who gave freely and supported her grandchildren as they began their paths to adulthood.

Barbara enjoyed listening to music, particularly classical choral pieces. She loved tending to her flowers and had a gift for making them blossom and bloom, a trait which unfortunately none of her children inherited, as demonstrated by the many plants they brought home for her to revive with her green thumb. Together with her husband, Bill, Barbara had a deep appreciation for our national parks and the wildlife within them, visiting national and state parks across the country. Barbara never hesitated to support the causes she believed in.

Barbara is survived by her six children: Kirstin, Jon (Debra), Heidi (Johannes), Kristin, Rebecca (Paul) and Anne-Marie; her 12 grandchildren: Gabriellena, Christopher, Rebecca Anna, Madelline, Alexandra, Katharina, Anna-Marie, Isabelle, William, Jon Jr., Ella and Emily. She is further survived by her sister, Thelma; her nieces, Lynn, Susan and Karen; and her nephews, Carl John and Mark.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents; her sister, Ruth; her brothers-in-law, Carl and John; her son-in-law, Robert; her nephew, Robert; and her niece, Barbara.

A memorial service will be held at GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5701 Raymond Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. CST on Friday, June 10, 2022. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. CST until the time of the service on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Middleton Outreach Ministry at momhelps.org and Save the Children at savethechildren.org.

Barbara’s family would like to thank the staff at Oak Park Place and Agrace HospiceCare for their wonderful, kind and compassionate care of Barbara. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg

Funeral & Cremation Care

2950 Chapel Valley Road

(608) 442-5002