Barbara K. Sonnenberg, age 89, of Evansville, WI, formerly of Reedsburg and Rice Lake, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Jefferson Memory Care. Barb was born in 1935, the daughter of Fred and Erma (Rabuck) Briggs. In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Howard Sonnenberg, and they spent 66 wonderful years together until Howard’s death in 2019.

Barb grew up and lived in Wonewoc until her marriage. She and Howard raised their children in Rice Lake, where they loved to curl, play cards, golf, and entertain. They belonged to Bethany Lutheran Church, where Barb sang in the choir and helped with many social events, mostly involving food. She was a fantastic cook and could throw together a tailgate party at a Brewers game like nobody else. She loved her Packers, but always had a rule of “no snacks till the Packers score” on football Sundays. Barb and Howard retired to Florida in 1995, where they lived year-round for 18 years before moving back to Wisconsin to be closer to family.

Barbara is survived by her children, Holly (Steven) Meyer of Evansville and Jeff of Fitchburg, grandchildren Adam (Ronni Graham) of Cincinnati and Justine of Green Bay, great-grandchildren Jehzelle, Porter, Vada and Hollis; sisters JoAnn Kilmer and Rosemary (Gerald) Schroeder, brothers-in-law Jim Sonnenberg and Wayne Lankey, nieces and nephews, and many other friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Howard; and sister Shirley Huebel.

A memorial gathering celebrating Barbara’s life will be held at VFW Post 1916, 200 Veterans Drive, Reedsburg, on Wednesday, October 23, From 12 noon until 4:00 pm.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation for the wonderful staff of both Jefferson Memory Care and Rainbow Hospice. Barb’s last few months were spent being so very well cared for and loved by all she encountered, even when she was at her feistiest. The younger staff all called her “Grandma,” which she loved, and one caregiver even said that the place “seemed black and white before and then turned into color” when she moved in.

Farber Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in Barb’s honor to Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson, Wisconsin (https://rainbowcommunitycare.org) or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (https://alzfdn.org/).