Barbara Arlene "Barb" Brakken

Barbara Arlene (Gryphan) Brakken died on June 4, 2025 at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester, Minnesota. She was 89. Barbara was born October 15, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to parents Elmer and Addie Gryphan. The family moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin where Barb spent her childhood. In 1953, she graduated from La Crosse Central High School and went on to earn an associate's degree in medical technology at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. As a teen, Barb had a summer resort job on Lake Namakagon near Cable, Wisconsin. She spent many weekends and summers there with her family in later years. Barb worked as a medical lab technician while raising her three children in Minneapolis, Tallahassee, and suburban Chicago. The family moved to northern Minnesota where Barb worked in water quality control for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Duluth; then later in Lakewood, Colorado. She returned to the Twin Cities and spent the rest of her career working for 3M Corporation, eventually becoming a sales representative and relocating to California. After retiring from 3M, she became a seasonal retail salesperson at golf courses in California and Arizona. She eventually returned to her beloved hometown of La Crosse. Barb enjoyed a variety of sports, including bowling, downhill skiing and golf. She also loved being a dog owner and watching the Green Bay Packers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Nancy Fischer; and her dog Maci. She is survived by her children, Bill, Suzi and Rick (Kristi) Brakken; brother Dick Gryphan; three grandchildren; Kelly, Sam and Jack, and two nephews and a niece. Barb's family wishes to thank the staff at Cottage Senior Communities for the loving care she received during her brief residency there.