Barbara Marie Bares

July 3, 1938 – April 23, 2025
In Loving Memory of Barb Bares
Barb Bares was born on July 3, 1938, to Karl and Florence Love. She spent her early years between Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Hopkins, Minnesota, eventually graduating from Hopkins High School in 1956. Eager to learn and with a spark of humor, Barb enrolled at the Minnesota School of Business, pursuing a double major in accounting - and what she fondly referred to as her "MRS degree."
It was there that she met the love of her life, Joe Bares. The two were married on December 22, 1958, beginning a partnership built on love, family, and faith. Together they were blessed with three children: Donna, Jay, and Kathy.
Barb brought her talent and dedication to a successful career managing several construction companies as their trusted office manager. Her work ethic was matched only by her devotion to her family and the joy she found in life's simple pleasures.
Barb loved gardening, which she continued to enjoy well into her 80s. She had a passion for canning, volunteering, and crafting - especially decorating the wooden projects Joe lovingly built. Her voice was a cherished part of church choirs over the years, and evenings often found her happily solving puzzles on Wheel of Fortune. Barb also loved vacationing with her family during the years their kids were growing up. She enjoyed camping for many years. After her and Joe's retirement, they fell in love with their annual trips to Branson in the Fall and going on Cruises in the winter. Her and Joe eventually went on over 20 cruises in their retirement years. Some of these cruises were just the 2 of them but they also enjoyed many cruises with family.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Joe, her parents Karl and Florence Love, her sister Leighann Love, and great-granddaughter Lillian Westphal.
Barb's legacy lives on in her children: Donna (Tim) Erickson, Jay Bares, and Kathy (Adam) Olerich; her 9 grandchildren: Jason (Keri) Erickson, Heather (Glenn) Lawrence, Josephine Erickson, Ryan (Megan) Bares, Brandon (Donna) Bares, Tyler (Annamarie) Bares, Joseph Franks, Maria Franks, and Melissa Franks; and her 12 great-grandchildren.
Her life was one of love, laughter, faith, and family. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered!