Barbara Louise Wierschem

Barbara Louise Wierschem, age 94 of Markesan, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Markesan Resident Home. Visitation for Barbara will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 13235 W Capitol Dr., Brookfield, WI 53005 from 10:00 am until the time of the service at 11:00 am with Rev. Richard Jones officiating. Entombment will follow.

Barbara Louise Wierschem was born on August 28, 1926 to John and Iva (Maltz) Ring in Milwaukee, WI, where she grew up with her sisters Connee and JoAnne. Barb attended Rufus King High School where she met her husband John (Jack) Wierschem. They started dating in the early 1940’s and were high school sweethearts. Jack was the star athlete and she was HIS cheerleader.   She worked as a secretary in Milwaukee (quite efficient in typing) while he served in the army and attended college. They were married on August 16, 1947 and were exclusively together for 68 years prior to his passing in 2010. Although Jack received the awards for his athleticism, Barb also excelled in golf, tennis and bowling and was a tough competitor for Jack throughout their years together. They lived in Milwaukee and started a family raising three sons Bob, Jim, and Tom before moving to Brown Deer and then Mequon where their three sons shared their passion for sports. In Mequon they settled into a sprawling ranch home in Solar Heights and enjoyed their neighbors, a large yard with lots of space for “ball”, a huge garden, and fruit trees. Barb loved being outside enjoying nature and the sunshine. Spending time with extended family and friends during the year was her passion sharing in many gatherings for holidays or special celebrations. When their sons were grown and Jack retired they sold their Mequon home and split time between two condos, one on Nagawicka Lake in Hartland, WI and another in Ft. Myers, FL. This allowed them more time enjoying warm temps and “water activity” every month of the year either on their pontoon boat in Wisconsin or at the pool or beach in Florida. Barb loved being in or around water, soaking up the sun’s rays, or just relaxing and as a result sported a year round tan! After Jack died the condos were sold and she moved to a spacious apartment in Menomonee Falls with a “perfect view” before moving to assisted living in Markesan in January of 2019. She remained active and busy. This past summer she was able to enjoy a week at Bob’s Lake Shishbogama Condo in Minoqua, a ride on Jim’s pontoon boat on the Fox River in Montello, and a picnic celebrating her 94 ^th birthday at Big Green in Markesan with Tom and Becky. Barb was always impeccably dressed with a well taken care of hairdo and make-up applied to perfection till the end. If wanting to go anywhere, you knew you had to give her ample time to “get ready”. She was generous, loving to shop and give gifts to her loved ones for all occasions. Barb was an excellent cook and baker and loved to entertain and host family and friends either for a single meal or many meals during an extended visit. She provided delicious meals starting with appetizers and followed by dessert and ongoing snacks, along with a “never empty” candy dish. Her grandchildren, who affectionately called her Grams, would occasionally weigh themselves prior to a visit and again after to see how much they had gained. You NEVER left her home hungry! She also loved to eat and having a sweet tooth she rarely passed a bakery or ice cream shop without picking up a treat and requested ice cream for her final meal. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, her sister Constance Syring, brother-in-law Kenneth Syring, Hank and Jeanne Raasch brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and Ken Wierschem brother-in-law. She is survived by her sister JoAnne (Adrian) Holmes, sister-in-law Jane Wierschem, sons Robert (Debra) Wierschem, James (Susan) Wierschem, Thomas (Rebecca) Wierschem, grandchildren Jay (Lynne) Wierschem, Joy (Brad) Noltze-Kanad, Charles (Michelle) Wierschem, Jennifer (Donald) Adametz, Katharine (Patrick) Hoven, Elizabeth (Richard) Jones, Amelia (Blake) Hunter, 21 great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends. Monetary memorials can be directed to memorial of choice or to the family.