Barbara C. Danke

Barbara C. Danke, age 84, passed away the evening of December 4, 2024, at Brewster Village in Appleton. Barbara was born on September 26, 1940, to the late Edward and Cecelia (Kohl) Ashauer. On October 20, 1962, she married Alton Danke and they shared 55 years together until his death in 2018.

Barb enjoyed shopping. Finding the perfect gift for each person in her world was her joy. She enjoyed many aspects of textile arts such as crocheting, needlepoint, and embroidery. She was a great cook and baker, and her recipe book is a coveted item throughout her family. She was a “mad canner” at harvest time. She was known to literally “pack anything” all the while playing card games with her family. A survivalist could have lived for years on her storeroom.

Barb loved to watch the birds at the feeders at her house. Sandi was her faithful filler. She especially loved to watch the cardinals, hummingbirds and finches. There was often a competition between Barb and her girls for the first spring sighting of a Robin.

Barb is survived by her daughters Tami (Terry) Sperstad and Sandi (Chris) La Stofka; grandchildren: Mary (Ryan) Finnegan and Danny (Teddy Edwards) Chapman as well as great grandchildren Lorna and Leon Finnegan. In addition, she is survived by her siblings: Pat Griesbach, Bonnie Ashauer, Marilyn (Cedric) Martin and Ed (Dawn) Ashauer; and sister-in-law Susie Ashauer as well as Alton’s sisters Donna (David) Pagel and Elvera Kent. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents, infant son Timothy; brother Dennis Ashauer, Brother in law Bill Griesbach and 7 of Alton’s siblings.

A funeral liturgy will take place on Friday December 13, 2024, at 1:00pm at St Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 107 N Olk Street, Hortonville. Friends and family may gather at the church from 12:00pm until mass begins. 

Alton and Barbara will be buried together immediately following mass at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Greenville.