Barbara Elsbeth Retrum

Barbara Elsbeth Retrum, age 89, formerly of Hollandale and Spring Green, passed away while surrounded by members of her family on Wednesday evening, April 13, 2011 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Sauk City after a brief illness of pancreatic cancer. She was born on June 6, 1921 in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, the daughter of Adolf and Lena (Youngen) Schneider. She attended schools in Monticello, Blanchardville, Moscow and Hollandale through the eleventh grade. Barbara was married on September 12, 1938 to Lawrence Clifford Retrum at the Blanchardville Lutheran parsonage. She farmed with her husband in the Dodgeville, Hollandale, and Blanchardville areas, worked at the Hollandale Restaurant, worked in the family business, Retrum's Livestock Trucking, driving truck, was the secretary and bookkeeper and was a housekeeper in Madison from 1960-1991 for numerous clients. She had been a past member of the Hollandale Lutheran Church and the ladies aide. In 1970 they had moved to the Spring Green area. She enjoyed bowling, including having her own bowling team, playing euchre and loved hunting with her husband and sons. After the death of her husband in August 2003, she moved to Sauk City in September 2003 to be closer to her family and met several new friends through her apartment complex and going to the Community Center to play euchre.

Barbara is survived by nine children, Gerald (Sue) Retrum of Mt. Horeb, Shirley (Ray) Bourne of Avon Park, FL, Ron "Punk" Retrum of Barneveld, Edith (Michael) Stilwell of Madison, James (Linda) Retrum of Lacrosse, Janice Keyser of Sauk City, Jeff (Judy) Retrum of Verona, John "Jack" (Juanita) Retrum of Sauk City and Jill Rogers, Mazomanie. She is further survived by a sister, Rose Strommen of Madison; one brother, Carl "Cuddy" (Pat) Schneider of Hollandale; a daughter-in-law, Jan Retrum of Sun Prairie; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, in-laws, Conrad and Maude Retrum, two daughters Linda and Betty Lou in infancy, a son, Larry who died in August of 2005; two grandchildren, Daniel and Sharon Retrum; a sister, Hilda Schneider; three brothers, Adolph, Frederick and Wiliam Schneider; a brother-in-law, LaVonne Strommen; and extended members of her husband's family.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 18, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Hollandale Lutheran Church in Hollandale. Rev. Mark Gruner of the Pecatonica Lutheran Parish will officiate. Burial will be in the Hollandale Cemetery at a later date. A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 17, 2011 from 3:00 until 7:00 PM at the Hollandale Lutheran Church in Hollandale and at 10:00 AM prior to the funeral. The Saether Funeral Home in Blanchardville is assisting the family. Online memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.saetherfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to say thank you to Dr. McAuliffe, UW doctors, staff at Maplewood Nursing Home and Home Health United for all their generous care. Barb will greatly be missed by her family and all who loved her. She will be remembered for her years of good cooking she brought forward to her family and most of all her "chocolate chip cookies" enjoyed by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. "Mom you taught us all how to live and enjoy life and recently, how to peacefully go onto your eternal home. We love you and will miss you, your family"