Barbara "Barb" Jean Saunders, age 88, died peacefully at Park View Health Center in Oshkosh on Sunday, June 19, 2016. She was born on November 19, 1927, in East Chicago, Indiana to the late Charles and Pauline East.
She attended Washington High School in East Chicago, Indiana where she met the love of her life Jack Saunders. Together they graduated in 1945 and later married on October 8, 1949. After their wedding, Barb and Jack relocated to Wisconsin where they raised their six children.
Barb later pursued a career in administrative health care, working more than 30 years at Mercy Medical Center. After retirement, Barb and Jack moved to Mesa, Arizona where they resided for ten years, later returning to Oshkosh to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Barb was a compassionate, gentle soul who provided solace and guidance to so many. She loved deeply and cared affectionately for her family and friends, but also the many pets she brought into her home during her lifetime. Barb gave so much of herself without hesitation or regret.
She enjoyed gardening, reading, crafting, and spending time with her family and friends. Barb also immersed herself for many yearslong before ancestry.comin genealogy, discovering her family's path to the present.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a son Bradley Saunders; a daughter Valerie Saunders; and a granddaughter Katie Winter Bettner.
Barb is survived by her husband Jack Saunders; and their four children, Lindsay Saunders of Casa Grande, AZ; Scott (Joyce) Saunders, Oshkosh, WI; Todd (Jackie) Saunders, Oshkosh, WI; and Alison Saunders (Buck Eckholm), Winneconne, WI; daughter-in-law, Lisa Saunders; and her brothers, Jeff (Jeanie) East and Dick (Carol) East. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Colleen Saunders, Heather Saunders, Shannon Saunders, Matthew Saunders, Ashley Saunders, Ainsley (Eddie) Warczak, Colin Rubbert, Colton Saunders, and Seneca Saunders; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Barb's family extends a special thank you to Dr. Kirtida Ringwala and Dr. Sumit Ringwala for being available day and night to provide immediate care, answer questions, and guide us through tough medical decisions. We are eternally grateful for your abilities in comforting Barbara and our family all these years. We would also like to thank the aides and nurses at Park View Health Center who provided care, comfort, and love to Barbara throughout the last three years and especially in her final days. We are also grateful for the extra care you have provided our father as he navigates the difficult days ahead without his love by his side. Together they have been cared for like family and for that, each of you will be forever in ours.
A visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday, June 25, 2016, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Mueller Funeral Home 904 E. Main Street Winneconne, where a prayer service will be held at 11:30 a.m.
If you wish please submit online condolences to muellerfuneralhomeinc.com.