Barbara Stauner

1937 - 2024

Barbara Stauner, 86, Rice Lake, passed away on January 28th, 2024. She was born on May 30, 1937, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to Harold and Ethel (Kraimer) Rust. She grew up on a farm near Cumberland, Wisconsin, and was the oldest of six children. She was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church and graduated from Cumberland High School in 1955 with honors.

On August 22, 1958, Barbara married Francis Stauner at Sacred Heart Church in Almena, Wisconsin. They were married for 44 years until Francis passed in 2003. Their union was blessed with six children and she committed her life to caring for her family. Barbara's hobbies included gardening, needle crafts and she was gifted at sewing, making personalized quilts for many of the special people in her life. She read to her children and grandchildren at every opportunity fostering in them a lifelong appreciation of books. She enjoyed spending time at their cabin on Cranberry Flowage, ranch in Montana and wintering in Arizona. She quietly gave generously to charities that supported children and education. Her faith was a central part of her life and she served as the religious education coordinator and president of the Council of Catholic Women for many years at Sacred Heart Parish.

She is survived by her loving children: Michael (Rhonda) Stauner, Ann (Kip) Hay, Kathy (Robert) Otto, Tim Stauner, Susan (Jeff Clark) Flanagan and Patty Nesheim; 17 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; special friend Jack Doyle; sisters: Beverly Stearns and Bonnie Radcliff; sisters-in-law: Sharon Rust, Diane Rust, Patti Rust, Bonnie Bartylla, Charlotte Anderson and Veronica St. Louis; brother-in-law Gerhardt (Mary Alice) Stauner and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sons-in-law: Jody Flanagan and Jeff Nesheim; brothers: Roger Rust, Rodney Rust and Richard Rust; many beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law.

A funeral Mass for Barbara will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Almena. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren: Stephanie McDonough, Mitch Stauner, Beth Siems, Angie Flanagan, Scot Hammann, Erin Graf, Heather Kurtz, Ashley Hay, Jena Florczak, Will Stauner, Adam Hay, Tim Flanagan, Tracy Riebe, Mark Flanagan, Brent Flanagan, Haley Harmon and Adam Nesheim.

The family would like to thank the staff at Cambridge Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care of our mother during her final days.

In lieu of flowers or monetary gifts, the family requests that donations be made in Barbara's name to Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, 3033 41st St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.