On June 12, 1971, Barb was united in marriage to Gregory Robbins at the United Methodist Church in Shawano, where they remained active members for many years. Barb particularly enjoyed their time as MYF youth leaders which included sunrise services, weekly meetings, and hay rides. On June 14, 1985, Barb graduated from the Bellin College of Nursing and was awarded a diploma as a Registered Nurse. During her 25 years as an RN, Barb worked in emergency and special care, home care, and hospice services. After caring for her terminally ill mother in 1990, Barb devoted the remainder of her career to individuals and families in need of in home hospice care and support.
In 1993 Barb became the Director of Shawano Community Hospice, operated through the Shawano Community Hospital. During her tenure as Director, hospice service programming became Medicare certified, a significant advancement in helping provide further support to those in their final stages of life. After several years, Barb returned to her first love in nursing, providing direct support and compassion to those under her care. As one former family member in her care recently remarked, “Barb was an angel for us during my wife’s final illness.”
Barb was very active throughout her life. She had a fun personality. Growing up she enjoyed sports, snowmobiling, riding her motorcycle, and participating in 4H. Later, she enjoyed golfing, landscaping, antiquing, Jeeping, and owning and driving sports cars, especially Corvettes. Barb also had a passion for animals; cats, dogs, birds, and definitely horses! She loved horseback riding, driving her antique doctor’s buggy, and going for sleigh rides behind her big Friesian draft horse, Pieter. Many vacations centered on her enjoyment of training and showing horses at equine events across the country.
Family was very important to Barb. She enjoyed family time on holidays, birthdays, grilling out, grandchildren sleepovers, and crazy indoor Easter egg hunts. Barb was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother and will be deeply missed.
Barb leaves behind her husband of 46 years, Greg; her daughter, Heather (Brad) Johnson of Shawano; two grandchildren, Kayla and Nickolas Habeck, and their father, Rick, all of Shawano; her brother, Roy (Sharon) Rhode of Gillett; her brother-in-law, Murray Robbins of Shawano; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Mary Ellen Rhode.
A memorial service for Barb will be held on Sunday, December 17, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Mickelson Funeral Service of Shawano. Pastor Karla Kirkeby will officiate. Visitation begin at 12:00 PM and continue until the hour of service.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
“Barb’s family wishes to give special thanks to Nurse Betsy and the staff of ThedaCare at Home Hospice, as well as the dedicated care givers that supported Barb throughout her illness.”