Barbara Ann Smith

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Barbara Ann Smith, 84, of Wakefield, was gifted eternal peace on the Sixth Day of Christmas, Dec. 30, 2024, following a brief hospitalization at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital in Ironwood.
Born and named Barbara Ann Warren on Feb. 13, 1940, in Ashland, Wisconsin, she was the fourth of seven children of Theodore and Mildred Warren. She was raised on the family dairy farm in Highbridge, Wisconsin. A cheerleader for the Granite Diggers, she graduated from Mellen High School with the class of 1958. She then worked for a time in the office at Minton Motor Sales of Mellen.
Barb married Arvi Ahonen in July 1959. After living for two years in Missouri during his service with the U.S. Army, they made their home in Wakefield. She gave birth to ten children and was mom not only to her own but to a neighborhood of kids. She assisted with the operation of her husband's fuel delivery business until his death in 1984, then worked at Sky View Nursing Center in Hurley, Wisconsin, and Gogebic County Head Start.
Barb married James "Jim" Smith of Wakefield in 1988. Except for a year in Arizona, they resided in Wakefield continuously until the time of her passing. She worked for several years at the Sports Bar of Wakefield until her retirement.
Barb was proud of her full-blooded Finnish heritage and was active through early adulthood in congregations of the Finnish-American National Evangelical Lutheran Church (Kansalliskirkko). She served as a Sunday school teacher and church secretary, and shared her musical talents as a singer and church choir director. She also was active as a volunteer in the community with such organizations as the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce, Wakefield Little League and the Matt Ahonen Memorial Softball Tournament.
Barb was a woman of great faith who faced life's challenges courageously -- including the tragic death of her first husband, the untimely passing of three children and a grandchild, and her own battle with cancer -- and demonstrated resilience and Finnish sisu in persisting. She also was a woman who loved well and was well loved, embracing all the good things in her life – family and friends above all – with genuine warmth and heartfelt laughter.
Barbara was preceded in death by her first husband, Arvi, in 1984; two sons, William, in 1979, and Matthew, in 1997; a daughter, Sandra, in 2003; and a granddaughter, Christina, in 2012. She was also predeceased by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law, Ardith and Rich Kretzschmar; and her sister-in-law, Betty Warren.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; and children, Jeffrey (Mariann) Ahonen, Mary (Jay) Ahonen, Thomas (Laura) Ahonen, Kirsti (Pat) Libertoski, Karl "Gus" (Jennifer) Ahonen, Michael Ahonen, and Amy (Chris Wasielewski) Ahonen. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Bethany (Kevin), Maria (Michael), Lisa (Wes), Kayla (Sergio), Patrick (Jesse), Tyler (Mia), Geno, Brittany, Thomas (Randie), Abby (Jacob), Adam (Talia), Alex and Madalynn. Her legacy of life now extends to eight great-grandchildren, Jaylyn, Hunter, Raegan, Janessa, Kyree and Barbara
Ann, and two soon to be born.
She is further survived by siblings, Ardell (Kathy) Warren, James Warren, Sharon (Robert) Kretzschmar, Richard (Carol) Warren and Joseph (Kris) Warren; as well as Jim's siblings, Ed (Judy) Smith, Phyllis Olson and Pat Tober (Todd Sorenson); plus numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, Jan. 4, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9084, 107 E. U.S. 2, in Wakefield. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 11 a.m. Luncheon will be served at the hall immediately following the service.
The officiant for the service will be her son, the Reverend Jeffrey A. Ahonen. Pallbearers for the service will be grandsons, Patrick, Thomas, Adam, Tyler, Kevin, Michael, Sergio and Jacob. Accompanist for the service will be daughter-in-law, Mariann.
A committal service and interment will take place in Spring 2025 at the Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.