Barbara Ann Foley
December 1, 1956 - November 14, 2022
        

Barbara Ann was born on December 1, 1956, to Leonard and Aletta (Weinkauf) Kozminski. She was welcomed home by three older sisters: Cathy, Mary Ann, and Marge. When she was six, her younger brother, Ken, was born. She lived in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, throughout her childhood.

 Barb graduated from East High School in 1974 and went on to study at WCTC, graduating with her LPN degree in 1976. She spent her entire career as a nurse, working at many different levels in nursing.

 Barb married James Foley Jr. on September 4, 1982, when she became stepmother to Jodie and Justin. When they had children of their own, she became a fun-loving grandmother to Jodie and her son-in-law, LeRoy’s, children, Kaitlea and Riley, and to Justin’s daughters, Justine, Maddie, Faith, and Isabel. Her sisters and brother and Jim’s sisters and brothers also made her an auntie many, many times over, a role she filled with devotion.

 Barb’s grandchildren, nieces, and nephews will remember her for her kindness, her playfulness, and her spirited sense of humor. Always armed with a silly surprise up her sleeve, Barb brought joy and laughter to family gatherings. She was invested in the lives of her nieces and nephews and had a sweet, thoughtful way of making each one feel special.  

 Barb shared many fond memories with her siblings, from a surprise trip to Iowa when her brother, Ken, lived there to plotting pranks on each other’s spouses. They cared deeply for one another, supporting each other throughout their lives.

 Barb was loved by countless friends and neighbors, always willing to lend a helping hand, especially if pet-sitting was involved.

 Barb was an enormous animal lover. She had many pets throughout her lifetime. As an adult, she had a succession of her own pals; Chrissy and Abby were the first of Jim and Barb’s nine dogs and seventeen-year-old Moby was the first of their six cats. She also had a rabbit named Hopper. For the past several years, Barb enjoyed providing care to senior pets, including cats, Melvin and Murphy, and dog, Teddy. All of her pets were integral parts of her life, even signing the numerous cards she sent to family members and friends.

 Jim and Barb lived for many years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next door to their beloved neighbors, John and Jan Howard. In 1998, they moved to their new home in Jackson, Wisconsin, where John and Jan also moved. Barb lived in Jackson for the remainder of her life.

 In addition to being a pet mom and nurse, Barb also enjoyed working in her flower garden and helping others at the Jackson Food Pantry, which she and Jim organized and ran for 13 years.

 Barb passed away on November 14, 2022, after declining health, complicated by her diabetes, which she was diagnosed with at 11 years old. She was preceded in death by her mother, Aletta; her father, Leonard; her brother, Ken; her sister, Cathy; and numerous fur-babies. She is survived by her sisters, Mary Ann (Dennis) Spychalla and Marge Mosey; her children, Jodie (LeRoy) Toohey and Justin Foley; her grandchildren, Kaitlea, Riley, Justine, Maddie, Faith, and Isabel; her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; her husband, Jim; and their cat, Murphy.

 A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 1st, Barb’s birthday, at 4 p.m. at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home located at N84W17937 Menomonee Ave., Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. A visitation will precede the service from 2 to 4 p.m. on December 1st as well. Light refreshments and fellowship will be provided following the service in the community room at the funeral home. The service will be streamed for those unable to attend in person; check back here for the link starting at 3:30 p.m. on the first. A celebration of life is being planned for early 2023. Barb requested as part of her final wishes that memorials be made to the Washington County (Wisconsin) Humane Society or the Wisconsin Nurses Home Guard in lieu of flowers.

Please note that if anyone or anything was excluded from this obituary that it was strictly an inadvertent oversight. You are welcome to add your own memories, tributes, and sentiments to the family on the funeral home website guestbook.

To livestream the memorial service with your ZOOM account, please click HERE at time of service.