Barbara June Berres, 76, died Wednesday, October 30th at Loma Clara Senior Living, Morgan Hill, CA. She was born in South Milwaukee March 21, 1943, daughter of the late Fredrick and Adeline (Nee: Olszewski) Raether.
Barbara graduated from South Milwaukee High, Class of 1961. She was married to Elroy Norbeck from 1966 to 1976. On March 3, 1984, she married Robert W. Berres who preceded her in death on February 12, 2011. Barbara was employed by Toledo Scale for 25 years and retired in 2000. She was a member of the Lutheran Chapel of the Cross where she was an active volunteer and member of the Altar Guild. She was also a member of the Racine Elks Lodge, serving as Exalted Ruler from 2007-2008. Later, Barbara was a member of the Waukesha Elks Lodge. She was also a member and past treasurer of Caledonia American Legion Post 494 Auxiliary. She volunteered at the Veterans Home in Union Grove and spent time raising money for the Dictionary Project in Racine to buy over 1000 dictionaries for third graders. Barbara enjoyed playing cards, golf, gardening, and loved to travel. She especially enjoyed her trips to Australia and New Zealand, Paris, and Rome. Her family treasured her honesty, tenacity, and her unfailing sense of humor. Above all, Barbara enjoyed the time she spent with her family and friends. She will be remembered as an original, and dearly missed.
Surviving are her children, Jodi James of Seattle, WA, Wendy Sura of Morgan Hill, CA, Chris Norbeck of Jacksonville, AL, her step-daughter Andrea (Larry) Robers of Sturtevant, WI, and step-sons Michael (Joan) Berres of Littleton, CO, and Robert (Lynn) Beres of Stevens Point, WI; her grandchildren Brad (Lisa) Robers, Rebecca (Jason) Hirtz, Steven (Sara) Berres, Scott (Erika) Berres. Dane (Charity) Berres, Allison Berres, Alaina Berres, and her great-grandchildren, Cameron, Jacob, Amelia, and Theodore Berres, her brother, Russell (Debra) Raether of Oak Creek, WI; her Great Aunt Dorothy, her nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Janice Casberg and her brother, Fredrick Raether.
Visitation will be held at Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home, 803 Main Street, on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1501 Erie Street, on Saturday. Relatives and friends may also meet for visitation early at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service. Service at 11 a.m. with Pastor Dan Feldscher officiating. Interment will follow at Caledonia Memorial Park. Memorial gifts to Lutheran Chapel of the Cross Church and Wisconsin Veteran’s home at Union Grove have been suggested.
Please send condolences to Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home.