BARBARA M. ERBEN

Barbara Marie (Hoffmann) Erben, Age 101, was born on October 11, 1911, in the Town of Little Black. She lived her whole life in Little Black except for the year she was in a Madison hospital with polio when she was 10 years old. She went to the Stetsonville schools as a child through eighth grade. She was a dairy farmer for over 60 years, and when she retired from farming, she worked at Kramer’s Motel for a few years and then for the county helping those in need. For the past eight months she lived at Our House Assisted Living in Medford and passed away on Saturday, December 29, 2012, under the care of Hope Hospice.
She was married to Frank Joseph Erben on May 30, 1930 and he preceded her in death on March 16, 1976. Barbara was a life-time member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Stetsonville and belonged to the Altar Society and Ladies Foresters. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Stetsonville. Barbara loved playing cards and went to many card parties around the area. She loved to read, do word searches, put puzzles together and most importantly be with her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents Anton and Bertha (Baldermann) Hoffmann; husband Frank Joseph Erben; 2 brothers Robert and Lawrence Hoffmann; 3 sisters Louise Kostroski, Bertha Berger, and Ana Byrne; 1 daughter Marie Galetka; and 1 son Donald Erben in infancy. Barbara is survived by daughter Esther Morgan of Milwaukee and grandchildren Daniel, Dennis, Barbara, Sharon, Steven, and Richard, 11 great grandchildren, 2 step-great grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren; daughter Patricia (Donald) Duddles of Waukesha and grandchildren Donald, Donna, Patrice, Kevin, Kathy, Bonnie, Connie, Brian, and Benjamin, 16 great grandchildren and 19 great-great grandchildren; son-in-law Gordon Galetka of Oak Creek and grandchildren Gregory, Linda, Judy, and Nancy and 7 great grandchildren; brother Henry Hoffmann of Medford and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral Services for Barbara will be held on Saturday, January 5 at 11:00 A.M. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Stetsonville with Father Frederick Brost and Father Sangmoon Kim officiating. Burial will take place in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Stetsonville. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, January 4 at the Hemer Funeral Home, Medford where there will be a 7:00 P.M. Rosary Service and also from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 5 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Stetsonville. Grandchildren will serves as Pallbearers which include, Linda Coe, Nancy Kordus, Daniel and Dennis Hessil, Brian and Benjamin Duddles. Hemer Funeral Homes of Medford and Rib Lake is assisting the family with arrangements. –For online condolences please visit hemerfuneralservice.com