Barbara Mary Kaczmarek was born June 8, 1928 to Conrad and Minnie Smith. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Church in Waverly, Minnesota. Barb attended St. Mary’s School for 12 years. After graduation, she and a friend, Roseann Hessel, attended teacher training in Litchfield, Minnesota. She taught one year at Melquist School north of Cokato and three years at Waverly Public School. While teaching at Cokato she met her future husband, Raymond Kaczmarek. Ray was a school bus driver and picked her up every morning and brought her back home at the end of the day. They were married June 13, 1951 and celebrated 62 years of marriage. After Ray bought Cokato Implement, John Deere, she balanced her day doing the bookwork at the shop and raising their five children.
She enjoyed bowling, baseball, golf, flower gardening, hand work and cooking. After the children were in school, she and Ray were kept busy attending school activities. She and Ray traveled to 6 European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Alaska. They especially enjoyed being up north at the cabin fishing, beautiful sunsets and new friends. Barb called it the best therapy.
Preceded in death by husband Ray, daughter Jayne and her husband Jerry, and brother Don. Survived by Jeff (Suzanne), Deb (Mark), Cindy, John (Jody), grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 9-10:15 am. Mass services will be at 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, MN.