Cover photo for Lorraine Barness's Obituary

Lorraine Barness

November 21, 1931 — February 15, 2020

Lorraine Barness

Lorraine Viola (Thiele) Barness, age 88, of Winona, went to her eternal resting place on Saturday, February 15, 2020.

She was born on November 21, 1931 to Emma (Guergen) and Otto Thiele in Winona, Minnesota. She was born into God’s family through baptism on March 13, 1932 at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church. She married Robert Babler on December 5, 1953. They later divorced. She married Richard Barness on August 31, 1963.

Lorraine was very proud of her Winona heritage and often commented on the beauty of the city. She graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1949. After graduation, she went to work at Latsch Company. She began working for First National Bank in Winona (on the corner of Center and Fourth Streets) bookkeeping department in 1958. She remained there as it changed to Norwest (on the corner of Main and Fourth Streets). She left in 1988 when the bookkeeping department was moved out of the Winona location. She started working as a cashier at Shopko in 1988 and worked there until 2006, retiring at age 75.

She was a lifelong,faithful member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher, member of the Altar Guild, Worship Greeter and Women in Mission. When she was no longer able to attend services at church, she would look forward to Pastor Moore’s visits at Callista Court and later St. Anne Extended Care.

She enjoyed working in her yard and taking care of her flowers. She also loved shopping, especially bargain hunting. Her family and family activities were extremely important to her. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, sister, cousin, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. She leaves behind many beautiful family memories.

Lorraine moved to Callista Court – Ave Maria Memory Care in January 2015. She then moved to St. Anne Extended Care in June 2019. The family is thankful that her stay in theses facilities allowed her to live her dementia years with respect and dignity.

She is survived by her children, Bruce (Beth) Babler, Cindy (Wayne Wahl) Turner, Jeff (Dani) Barness, Carol Black, and Judi (Dave) Brady; grandchildren, Michael (Brittany) Babler, Eric (Maureen) Turner, Philip Babler, Andrew (Britny) Babler, Brandon (Sarah) Turner, Dominic Patton, and Timothy Babler; great grandchildren, Rachel Babler, Robert Babler, Rebecca Babler, and Richard Babler, sister-in-law, Marlene Thiele; nieces and nephews; cousins; friends, especially a very caring friend, Jullie Lewinski, and loyal fur friend and companion, Riley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her siblings, Herbert Thiele, Emma (Robert) Nelson, Hazel (Donald) Monson, Martha Thiele, and Alfred Thiele; great granddaughter, Madelyn Turner.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 PM until 6:30 PM on Friday, February 21, 2020, at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, where a closing devotional service will be held at 6:30 PM.  Visitation will also be held from 10:30 AM until the funeral service at 11 AM on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  The Reverend Richard A. Moore will officiate.  Lorraine will be laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

The family suggests memorials be directed to St. Martin’s Lutheran School Building Fund (253 Liberty Street, Winona, MN 55987), St. Anne Extended Care (1455 West Broadway, Winona, MN 55987), Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org/donate) or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Lorraine’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lorraine Barness, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, February 21, 2020

4:30 - 6:30 pm (Central time)

Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home

376 E Sarnia St, Winona, MN 55987

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Devotion

Friday, February 21, 2020

Starts at 6:30 pm (Central time)

Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home

376 E Sarnia St, Winona, MN 55987

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Visitation

Saturday, February 22, 2020

10:30 - 11:00 am (Central time)

St. Martin's Ev. Lutheran Church

328 E Broadway St, Winona, MN 55987

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

St. Martin's Ev. Lutheran Church

328 E Broadway St, Winona, MN 55987

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

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