Ella Claire Barnett, 91, passed away peacefully Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Our House Senior Living Care in Richland Center, Wisconsin where she had spent the last several years of her life.
Born and raised in Valentine, Nebraska, Claire was the sixth of seven children born to Mark and Phoebe (Jacobs) Stewart. Claire went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator during her senior year of high school. The same year, while selling poppies on the street of her home town, Claire met a young soldier, Wayne Barnett, who was on leave and home briefly between military assignments. Wayne was sent to England as a bombardier on an Eighth AAF B-17 Flying Fortress. After graduation, Claire transferred to San Francisco, to work in the commercial department of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. She and Wayne corresponded regularly throughout the war years, including the 11 months Wayne was a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1946, they were married.
Wayne's military career brought variety and adventure to Claire's life with frequent moves that stretched from coast to coast. Some of her favorite years were spent in Puerto Rico. Claire was often left on her own to hold down the fort and to care for their three children while her husband was on missions abroad with the Strategic Air Command. She made new friends easily and creatively turned whatever base housing they were assigned into loving homes. She found time to serve in various capacities on numerous committees with the Officer's Wives Club and was a volunteer worker with the Red Cross. An accomplished seamstress, she made not only the curtains and drapes for their 25+ different homes, but many of the family's clothes. She loved to sing and could play numerous musical instruments.
After her husband retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. in 1961, the couple bought a home in Denver, Colorado. City life was not for them however. On a search for a place in the country, they fell in love with the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin and moved the family to the peaceful rural countryside of the Boscobel/Blue River area. When the children left the nest, Claire completed nursing assistant training and worked briefly at the hospital in Boscobel as a lab and x-ray assistant.
She was a thoughtful and selfless person; slow to judge, quick to forgive. Her unconditional love for her family, friends, and especially life was an inspiration to all who met her. She was kindhearted, warm and friendly, gave the world's best hugs, had a quick wit and great sense of humor--"a classy lady" as her many friends described her. She looked forward to gadding about with the "Red Hats" and catching up on local news at weekly coffee klatches. She will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.
The family would like everyone to take a moment to remember her happy and loving spirit. A sincere thank you to the extended medical community, the dedicated staff at Our House, and the Agrace Hospice Care staff and volunteers who provided care and compassionately embraced her with love and thoughtfulness.
Claire was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years. She is survived by her children, William (Jinny) Barnett of Neenah, Kathleen (Gary) Gaard of Anchorage, Alaska, and Steven Barnett of Cassvillle; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
Claire will be laid to rest alongside her husband Wayne in the Blue River Cemetery.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Blue River Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at the Pratt Memorial Chapel. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Source: prattfuneralservice.com.
Born and raised in Valentine, Nebraska, Claire was the sixth of seven children born to Mark and Phoebe (Jacobs) Stewart. Claire went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator during her senior year of high school. The same year, while selling poppies on the street of her home town, Claire met a young soldier, Wayne Barnett, who was on leave and home briefly between military assignments. Wayne was sent to England as a bombardier on an Eighth AAF B-17 Flying Fortress. After graduation, Claire transferred to San Francisco, to work in the commercial department of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. She and Wayne corresponded regularly throughout the war years, including the 11 months Wayne was a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1946, they were married.
Wayne's military career brought variety and adventure to Claire's life with frequent moves that stretched from coast to coast. Some of her favorite years were spent in Puerto Rico. Claire was often left on her own to hold down the fort and to care for their three children while her husband was on missions abroad with the Strategic Air Command. She made new friends easily and creatively turned whatever base housing they were assigned into loving homes. She found time to serve in various capacities on numerous committees with the Officer's Wives Club and was a volunteer worker with the Red Cross. An accomplished seamstress, she made not only the curtains and drapes for their 25+ different homes, but many of the family's clothes. She loved to sing and could play numerous musical instruments.
After her husband retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. in 1961, the couple bought a home in Denver, Colorado. City life was not for them however. On a search for a place in the country, they fell in love with the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin and moved the family to the peaceful rural countryside of the Boscobel/Blue River area. When the children left the nest, Claire completed nursing assistant training and worked briefly at the hospital in Boscobel as a lab and x-ray assistant.
She was a thoughtful and selfless person; slow to judge, quick to forgive. Her unconditional love for her family, friends, and especially life was an inspiration to all who met her. She was kindhearted, warm and friendly, gave the world's best hugs, had a quick wit and great sense of humor--"a classy lady" as her many friends described her. She looked forward to gadding about with the "Red Hats" and catching up on local news at weekly coffee klatches. She will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.
The family would like everyone to take a moment to remember her happy and loving spirit. A sincere thank you to the extended medical community, the dedicated staff at Our House, and the Agrace Hospice Care staff and volunteers who provided care and compassionately embraced her with love and thoughtfulness.
Claire was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years. She is survived by her children, William (Jinny) Barnett of Neenah, Kathleen (Gary) Gaard of Anchorage, Alaska, and Steven Barnett of Cassvillle; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
Claire will be laid to rest alongside her husband Wayne in the Blue River Cemetery.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Blue River Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at the Pratt Memorial Chapel. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Source: prattfuneralservice.com.
Ella Claire Barnett, 91, passed away peacefully Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Our House Senior Living Care in Richland Center, Wisconsin where she had spent the last several years of her life.
Born and raised in Valentine, Nebraska, Claire was the sixth of seven children born to Mark and Phoebe (Jacobs) Stewart. Claire went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator during her senior year of high school. The same year, while selling poppies on the street of her home town, Claire met a young soldier, Wayne Barnett, who was on leave and home briefly between military assignments. Wayne was sent to England as a bombardier on an Eighth AAF B-17 Flying Fortress. After graduation, Claire transferred to San Francisco, to work in the commercial department of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. She and Wayne corresponded regularly throughout the war years, including the 11 months Wayne was a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1946, they were married.
Wayne's military career brought variety and adventure to Claire's life with frequent moves that stretched from coast to coast. Some of her favorite years were spent in Puerto Rico. Claire was often left on her own to hold down the fort and to care for their three children while her husband was on missions abroad with the Strategic Air Command. She made new friends easily and creatively turned whatever base housing they were assigned into loving homes. She found time to serve in various capacities on numerous committees with the Officer's Wives Club and was a volunteer worker with the Red Cross. An accomplished seamstress, she made not only the curtains and drapes for their 25+ different homes, but many of the family's clothes. She loved to sing and could play numerous musical instruments.
After her husband retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. in 1961, the couple bought a home in Denver, Colorado. City life was not for them however. On a search for a place in the country, they fell in love with the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin and moved the family to the peaceful rural countryside of the Boscobel/Blue River area. When the children left the nest, Claire completed nursing assistant training and worked briefly at the hospital in Boscobel as a lab and x-ray assistant.
She was a thoughtful and selfless person; slow to judge, quick to forgive. Her unconditional love for her family, friends, and especially life was an inspiration to all who met her. She was kindhearted, warm and friendly, gave the world's best hugs, had a quick wit and great sense of humor--"a classy lady" as her many friends described her. She looked forward to gadding about with the "Red Hats" and catching up on local news at weekly coffee klatches. She will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.
The family would like everyone to take a moment to remember her happy and loving spirit. A sincere thank you to the extended medical community, the dedicated staff at Our House, and the Agrace Hospice Care staff and volunteers who provided care and compassionately embraced her with love and thoughtfulness.
Claire was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years. She is survived by her children, William (Jinny) Barnett of Neenah, Kathleen (Gary) Gaard of Anchorage, Alaska, and Steven Barnett of Cassvillle; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
Claire will be laid to rest alongside her husband Wayne in the Blue River Cemetery.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Blue River Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at the Pratt Memorial Chapel. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Source: prattfuneralservice.com.
Born and raised in Valentine, Nebraska, Claire was the sixth of seven children born to Mark and Phoebe (Jacobs) Stewart. Claire went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator during her senior year of high school. The same year, while selling poppies on the street of her home town, Claire met a young soldier, Wayne Barnett, who was on leave and home briefly between military assignments. Wayne was sent to England as a bombardier on an Eighth AAF B-17 Flying Fortress. After graduation, Claire transferred to San Francisco, to work in the commercial department of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. She and Wayne corresponded regularly throughout the war years, including the 11 months Wayne was a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down. Upon his return to the U.S. in 1946, they were married.
Wayne's military career brought variety and adventure to Claire's life with frequent moves that stretched from coast to coast. Some of her favorite years were spent in Puerto Rico. Claire was often left on her own to hold down the fort and to care for their three children while her husband was on missions abroad with the Strategic Air Command. She made new friends easily and creatively turned whatever base housing they were assigned into loving homes. She found time to serve in various capacities on numerous committees with the Officer's Wives Club and was a volunteer worker with the Red Cross. An accomplished seamstress, she made not only the curtains and drapes for their 25+ different homes, but many of the family's clothes. She loved to sing and could play numerous musical instruments.
After her husband retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. in 1961, the couple bought a home in Denver, Colorado. City life was not for them however. On a search for a place in the country, they fell in love with the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin and moved the family to the peaceful rural countryside of the Boscobel/Blue River area. When the children left the nest, Claire completed nursing assistant training and worked briefly at the hospital in Boscobel as a lab and x-ray assistant.
She was a thoughtful and selfless person; slow to judge, quick to forgive. Her unconditional love for her family, friends, and especially life was an inspiration to all who met her. She was kindhearted, warm and friendly, gave the world's best hugs, had a quick wit and great sense of humor--"a classy lady" as her many friends described her. She looked forward to gadding about with the "Red Hats" and catching up on local news at weekly coffee klatches. She will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.
The family would like everyone to take a moment to remember her happy and loving spirit. A sincere thank you to the extended medical community, the dedicated staff at Our House, and the Agrace Hospice Care staff and volunteers who provided care and compassionately embraced her with love and thoughtfulness.
Claire was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years. She is survived by her children, William (Jinny) Barnett of Neenah, Kathleen (Gary) Gaard of Anchorage, Alaska, and Steven Barnett of Cassvillle; 9 grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, numerous nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
Claire will be laid to rest alongside her husband Wayne in the Blue River Cemetery.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Blue River Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at the Pratt Memorial Chapel. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Source: prattfuneralservice.com.
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