Obituary: Barbara L. MacDonald

Barbara L. MacDonald, age 79, of Ellison Bay, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8 after a brief illness. She was born on September 8, 1936 in Minneapolis, MN to the late Weston and Marge (Hefley) Johnson.

Barb attended Audubon Grade School, Southwest High School and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. On March 2, 1957 she married Tom MacDonald in Lake Harriet Christian Church in Minneapolis.

In her early years she was a stay at home mom raising their four children. Later she worked at Evanston hospital for 15 years. As a couple, Tom and Barb lived in the Minneapolis area; Costa Mesa, CA; Glenview, IL and then retired to Door County, WI. Barb was a member of Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church in Ellison Bay. She sang in the church choir, was a member of church council and was an active Stephen Minister and a Stephen Minister leader. Barb volunteered at Scandia Village where she played piano every week for the worship service. She was a kind and loving person, delighting in being with friends, children and her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Tom, daughter Kris (David) Irvine of Sonoma, CA; son Tom of San Clemente, CA; son Jeffrey of Ephraim, WI. Grandchildren: Michael Irvine, Molly Potter, Thomas MacDonald, Eric MacDonald, and Grace MacDonald. She is also survived by her sister Pat from Stillwater, MN and many nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous close friends. She was preceded in death by son Matthew, sister Ruth and brother Weston.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to: The Good Samaritan Society/Scandia Village, 10560 Applewood Rd. Sister Bay, WI 54234.

A celebration of life is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 9 at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, located at 11836 WI-42, Ellison Bay.

The family thanks the medical staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital as well as the dear souls at Unity Hospice. A special thanks to all those loving kind folks at Scandia Village. We will be forever thankful to you for walking with us through this difficult time.