Barbara Anne Spoehr

Barbara Anne Spoehr, age 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Aspire Senior Living August 5, 2026. She was born the second of seven daughters to the late Alta and Marcella (Brehm) Redfield in Menasha on March 13, 1940. She married David Spoehr on June 30th, 1962, at Saint Mary's Church in Menasha, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Seattle in her senior year of high school where she became lifelong best friends with Louise. The two of them moved to Menasha in 1960 living with her grandma and grandpa Brehm. Gradually, the remaining family members also moved back to Menasha as well.

Barbara not only was a stay-at-home mother; but also, the bookkeeper for Dave's drywall business for 63 years. After the children became more independent, she worked for 25 years at Fox Communities Credit Union (fka Winnebago Credit Union). She was a member of the book club and sometimes would read two books at the same time. Genealogy was a big interest of hers and she made many trips with her sister Pat to cemeteries, court houses and online research. Barbara enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting and quilting. She loved being present at her kids' and grandkids' events too, always their biggest fan! Speaking of cheering, Barb was a loyal fan of the Badgers Basketball and Green Bay Packers. She was the best wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt putting a smile on so many faces touching the hearts of everyone she knew. She is lovingly remembered as honest, intelligent, hardworking, a doer and a giver full of life, quick to joke and laugh, and eager to lend a helping hand. Barb and Dave went on countless vacations travelling throughout the states and Nova Scotia. The family enjoyed amusement parks and camping throughout the Wisconsin State Parks visiting waterfalls and taking bike rides to town for ice cream followed by a brandy old fashioned with extended family around the campfire. Although dementia had made it difficult to communicate, she still retained her wit and sense of humor, finding her own ways to communicate with many expressions that everyone loved.

Barb is survived by her devoted husband, David; daughters, Jennifer (Robert) Zumm, Catherine (Brian deceased) Freeman, Karen (Mathew) Toney, Sandra (Kaine) Thibodeau; grandchildren Alex and Benjamin Toney, Grant and Mason Freeman, Sienna and Oscar Thibodeau; great grandchildren Bentley, Reina and Ava Toney; sisters Mary Van Elzen, Marge (Mike) Reetz, Patricia Angell, Eileen (Peter) Mahoney; sisters in law Violet Dawkins, Joyce Yearwood, Nancy Zelhofer; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Barb was preceded in death by sisters Ellen Rusch and Janice Redfield, sisters in law Betty Manion, Anne Hinterman, Niece Annie Freiberg, brothers in law: Gary Angell, Robert Van Elzen, Patrick Manion, and Franklin "Ike" Zelhofer.

A memorial mass will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament- St. Mary's Site (605 Merritt Ave) on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 11AM. A time of visitation will be held from 9AM until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Most Blessed Sacrament Church, AseraCare, or The Salvation Army.

The family would like to thank the compassionate team at AseraCare Hospice and Aspire Senior Living and a special thanks to her adoring caregiver Jessie who prolonged her time at home with Dave .