Barbara Nelson

Barbara "Barb" Sue Nelson, age 83, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025 at her residence. She was born on March 27, 1942, in Baraboo, Wisconsin to parents Pearson and Melissa (Scoles) Spencer. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Ryan Funeral Home, 6924 Lake Rd, DeForest. A visitation will be held on Saturday at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will be held at Lake Windsor Country Club 4628 Golf Dr. Windsor.

Surrounded by Dale, her devoted husband of 64 years and their loving children, Barbara Sue Nelson peacefully entered eternal life after a courageous journey with pancreatic cancer.

Barbara’s life was a beautiful reflection of love, faith, creativity, joy and unbounded spirit. Her greatest blessings were her beloved husband, four children, eleven grandchildren, her deep faith, love of music and passion for quilting. To those who knew Barb she was the heart of her family, always present with a smile, a listening ear and lots of laughter.

Barbara’s curiosity and zest for life shone brightly in her wide-ranging careers. Over the years she worked in banking, at the Baraboo News Republic, as an editor for Country Living Magazine, as a Medicaid and Medicare biller, elected Treasurer of the Town of Baraboo, a school bus driver and as a night auditor at a ski resort. Every role reflected her willingness to try new things. She was endlessly fascinated by the world around her especially when it came to technology. Barbara was famous for always having the latest gadget, often delighting her grandchildren with her latest discoveries.

An accomplished master quilter, Barbara poured her heart into creating one-of-a-kind quilts for each of her grandchildren. Every stitch carried her love and creativity — vibrant, thoughtful works of art that will forever wrap her family in her warmth.

Music was the heartbeat of Barbara’s life. She co-founded the children and adult guitar choirs at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Baraboo, accompanying both on guitar. The choirs became beloved in the church and also performed at weddings, special occasions and community celebrations. She also championed inclusion of the children’s guitar choir on the altar in the 1970s which ushered in increased participation, joy and approachability in worship. Her use of famous folk music melodies of the era like “American Pie” and “Morning has Broken” with re-worded religious lyrics, made them more accessible and meaningful to the parishioners. In her later years at Parkside Senior Village, Barb continued making music as part of the Bell Choir and Ukulele Group.

Her faith was steadfast and deeply lived. Barbara was one of the founding organizers of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Annual Festival, which continues to thrive today thanks to her vision and determination. She and her sister-in-law once made the memorable trip to Madison to meet with the Bishop, personally convincing him to approve the first church festival after several prior refusals — a story fondly retold in her family as a testament to Barbara’s persistence and courage.

Barbara and Dale’s love story was the foundation of her blessed life. She often said her “life truly began when I met Dale,” and for 64 wonderful years they built a partnership filled with devotion, laughter and adventure. They were rarely seen without holding hands and did so to the end. It was a simple but powerful reflection of their unwavering bond.

Her unique spirit lives on in the countless lives she touched. She is lovingly survived by her husband Dale Nelson; her children Timothy (Sheryl) Nelson, Michelle (Mark) Zvonar, Melissa (Gary) Volz; daughter-in-law Ann (John Wethall) Nelson; and her grandchildren Kyle Nelson, Jonathan Nelson, Alec (Jacqui Geringer) Nelson, Allissa (Andy) Bowman, Jayden Zvonar, Sam (Maddie Woller) Nelson, Jared (Abby Lammers) Zvonar, Kayla (Ted Newton) Nelson, Sophie (Jarrett) Burgess, Eliza Volz, and Ella Volz.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Pearson and Melissa Spencer; her brothers Thomas, Richard, Michael, Charles and Jerry Spencer; her special great-aunt Blanche Eschenbach; and her beloved son William Nelson.

A special thanks to the thoughtful and caring staff at St. Croix Hospice, especially Holly and Amy who provided such compassionate care and social worker Amy for guiding the family on Barb’s end-of-life journey. Pastor Dave and music therapist Nick shared their special gifts of spirituality and music that deeply lifted Barb’s spirits and gave her comfort.

In lieu of flowers, you can make contributions to the Cornerstone Community Center in Deforest to support the Meals on Wheels program or The Colonial Club Senior Center in Sun Prairie.