“This page is dedicated to all of the donations we receive in memory of, and in honor of dear loved ones.
Losing a loved one is never easy, but their memories live in your heart, and in the lives of our residents.”
We would love to know more about your loved one the donation in honor is made for! Please email us at LITTLEREDBARNDOGRESCUE@GMAIL.COM if you would like to include a photo and personalized message to share!
Ronald Kopp
Ronald Kopp, age 95, of Rice Lake, WI died Friday, August 14, 2020 at the Dove Health Care in Rice Lake.
He was born on Oct. 3, 1924 in Chetek, WI to Claude and Evelyn (Dahl) Kopp. After Ron graduated from High School, he entered the United States Army and served in Okinawa and was later Honorably Discharged. He was married to Vyrle Hildebrandt on February 19, 1944. Ron worked for the University of Wisconsin Barron County Campus as groundskeeper/maintenance for many years.
He loved animals of all kinds especially his many pets, enjoyed gardening, antique tractors and farm equipment and going to the casino. He also really enjoyed grilling for the many family get togethers.
Vyrle Elaine Kopp
Vyrle Elaine Kopp, age 93, of Rice Lake, WI died Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, WI.
Vyrle was born on October 7, 1924 in Canton, WI to Paul and Mary (McLellan) Hildebrandt. She graduated from the Cameron High School and was married to Ronald Kopp on February 19, 1944. Vyrle worked for Wisconsin Bell, General Telephone Company and Verizon starting as a switchboard operator and dispatcher for over 40 years.
She enjoyed all of her pets, baking, cooking, gardening, family get togethers especially Christmas and attending church bazaars with her sisters.
Timothy D Sweep
Timothy D. Sweep, age 39 of Lakeville, formerly of Kansas City, MO, passed away September 19, 2018. Timothy is survived by his mother, Barbara (Frederick) Loring; father, Lou Sweep; step-mother, Jo Johnson; siblings, Susan (Jesse) Hennig, Brian (Caitlin) Sweep, Sarah (Roberto) Loring, Sean Sweep, Molly (Gregory) Fouts, and Scott (Heidi) Loring; grandparents, Joseph and Marion O’Brien; faithful companion, Abe; also by other loving relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his step-father, James Storkamp, and grandparents, Ben and Helen Sweep.
Waneta Baum
Waneta “Nita” L. Baum, 87, of Cumberland peacefully passed into the arms of her Heavenly Father on April 11, 2021, at home surrounded by her son, friends and four cats. Born in Massachusetts, October 10, 1933, Nita’s life started with many trials, loneliness, and hardships, but she prevailed and grew to be a strong-willed, energetic, adventure-seeking, child of God, mother, sister and friend to many.
In high school, Nita was the queen of the prom and an outstanding athlete. She went to girl’s state basketball and received a scholarship for basketball. She won ‘most valuable player’ of the New England AAU playoffs. She played for Foster Grant and earned money to play the game she loved.
As a young woman, she met and campaigned for John F. Kennedy, which led to working for Mayor Lynn of Massachusetts. She didn’t like working in an enclosed office environment, so she applied for Northwest Airlines where she was hired as a stewardess and flew for 37 years until she retired. She traveled the world and had many adventures along the way; including flying military over and back to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
Life was never boring! She loved traveling and took vacation in many other countries. She loved outdoor adventures wherever she went; kayaking, biking, skiing, camping. She enjoyed many of these adventures after retirement, in addition to getting her motorcycle license and private pilots license!
In the early 1970s, in an outstanding action for a single woman, Nita had it in her heart to adopt an 18-month-old baby boy named Brandyn. She raised him as a single parent and was so proud of the determined and responsible adult he became. After retirement, her lake home became her permanent residence.
Nita noted that one of her life’s highlights was her role in the start of Kinship in Cumberland. She helped to develop the board and collect donations. She was on the board and head of activities for many years. She gives special credit to Rob Ankarlo, (then Director of Kinship), for his support, along with the many great volunteers and board members over the years, who have made Kinship what it is today.
Nita enjoyed the quiet life in Wisconsin and said she would have continued with her adventures, but never thought that adopting two cats from the Human Society would have put a stop to that! Two other cats found their way to her doorstep and into her heart. During this quiet time of her life, Nita turned to the Lord. She was baptized upon joining Northern Lakes Church in 2002 and became involved in church activities and bible studies.
Nita is survived by her son, Brandyn of St. Paul, MN, and her older sister, Betty Vowles of Trenton, FL. Nita was also part of a much larger family at Northern Lakes Church who will surely miss her spunk, humor, love and presence, but they celebrate knowing she is now with her Heavenly Father!
Allen R Libby
Allen R. Libby, 83, of Vance Creek Township, Barron County, Wisconsin, passed away on March 11, 2021 at Heritage Lakeside Nursing Home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin after a brief stay.
Allen Roy was born in the Clear Lake area on December 6th, 1937 to Victor and Helen (Dzubay) Libby. Allen grew up and lived in Vance Creek Township his entire life. During his early years he attended Meadowbrook School and Graduated from Clayton High School in 1956. He attended the University of Wisconsin at River Falls for a short time and returned to the family dairy farm to work with his parents. He met Marilyn Pearson at the roller rink in Deronda, Wisconsin and they were married on November 25th, 1960. Together they worked the farm with Victor and Helen for many years. They had three children: Laurie, Carol and Michael.
Allen was a lifelong member of the Reeve Evangelical Free Church and served there in the capacity of youth leader, Sunday school teacher and Trustee board member. He was one of the charter members of the Barron County Reserve Officer Corps (ROC) and was a part of that organization for over 30 years and also was a member on and later chairman of the Vance Creek town board for over 40 years.
He and Marilyn took over the farm in 1976 when Victor retired and later formed Libby's Pine Valley Dairy, Inc. He was successful in his farming career, had almost 200 head of dairy cattle, farmed nearly 500 acres of land and did custom combining and hay baling in the area. In addition to his service with the township and the ROC, Allen also served on other boards relating to the township, the Clear Lake Ambulance Board and for a short time on the Clayton School Board.
Allen was well liked and respected by those who knew him and will be missed by many. Preceding him in death were his wife Marilyn, his parents, Victor and Helen and many aunts and uncles.
He leaves behind his children; Laurie (Michael) Gargulak, Rice Lake, WI, Carol (Debi Jo) Libby, Urbana, IL and Michael (Cari) Libby, Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren Caitlin (Michael) Brudzinski, Roberts, WI, Allison Gargulak, Tampa, FL and Margaret and Ian Libby, Minneapolis, MN; great-grandchildren Amelia and Bria Brudzinski; sisters Mary Ann (Roger) Klinghagen, Wilmar, MN and Sue (Roger) Theno, Woodbury, MN; and special friend, Marion Hoskins, Almena, WI.
Mary Wick
Mary K. Wick, 69, Oak Park Heights, MN, passed away, Saturday, January 16, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN. She was born November 12, 1951, in Rice Lake, WI, the second child of Don and Gladys (Leisz) Wick. Mary grew up in the Village of Turtle Lake, graduating from Turtle Lake High School in 1969. She furthered her education at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelors of Nursing Degree. Mary began her nursing career at the University Hospital, Madison, WI. Mary volunteered her nursing skills with the American Refugee Committee, providing health care in Phanat Nikem, Thailand during 1984 and in Kassala, Sudan during the fall of 1986. Mary finished her nursing career working for the Saint Paul School District. Retiring in 2014, she planned on traveling the world extensively. Mary most recently traveled to South Africa in 2014; Hanoi & the Mekong Delta, Vietnam in 2015. Sadly, her future adventures never happened.
At the time of her death Mary was helping to fund construction of a Surgical Clinic in Bolivia thru the "Mano a Mano Clinic" organization.
Mary is survived by her brothers Pat (Sue) Wick of Turtle Lake; Mark (Tonja) Wick of Comstock; James (Jean) Wick of Cumberland; Paul (Carol) Wick of Turtle Lake; Kevin (Sue) Wick of Bowler, WI. Niece and Nephews: Mike, Elizabeth, John, Kris, Kyle, Tom, Erin and Josh. Mary leaves behind her beloved dog Rico, her constant companion. Mary was preceded in death by her parents Don and Gladys Wick; Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Jake Cornwall and nephew Corbin Wick. Those wishing to offer memorials in Mary's memory are asked to consider a charity of their choice.
Sharon Woods
Sharon Woods, age 73, of Rice Lake, WI, died Monday, January 31, 2022 in Rochester, MN.
She was born on April 7, 1948 in Cumberland, WI to Bennie and Blanche (Hergert) Wallin. Sharon graduated from Cumberland High School in 1966 and then she attended UW LaCrosse and UW Eau Claire. She was married to Jerrold “Jerry” Woods on March 21, 1970 in Cumberland.
Sharon was the bookkeeper for Rice Lake Animal Hospital for many years and also worked at JCPenney. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, a member of Rice Lake Fortnightly, and enjoyed attending the Fish Trap Open Tournament Golf Outing. Sharon had a faith that helped her develop her love for our Lord and Savior. She was a Sunday School Teacher years ago and loved her canine friends.
She will be remembered for her love for her family, her lake lot in Cumberland, playing and watching her grandchildren, going to sporting events and snowmobiling. Sharon had a beautiful smile and a positive attitude toward life.
She is survived by her husband, Jerrold “Jerry” Woods; three children, Jennie (Steve) Diercks, Brian (Valerie) Woods and Erick (Laura) Woods; eight grandchildren, Paige, Parker and Philip Diercks; Benjamin and Brenden Woods; Emily, Lucas and Eliot Woods.
Jodi Hanna
Jodi Lynn Hanna, 59, of Rice Lake, formerly of Madison, died peacefully with her wife by her side on November 9, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Health System-Northland. She was born October 8, 1963, in Seymour, IN to William “Joe” and Patricia “Pat” (Harness) Hanna. She was legally married to Bonnie Pauline Denny on their 25th anniversary in Iowa on December 5, 2011.
Jodi graduated Magna Cum Laude from IU Bloomington with a Masters Degree in Law. She loved to learn and use her skills and knowledge to help those in need. She had a strong sense of justice and that was her driving force. Jodi worked with Disability Rights Wisconsin and advocated for legal equality; she was not afraid to stand up to big corporations to advocate for her clients resulting in life changing settlements. She was especially proud of her work with Voting Rights Accessibility, and working with the Red Cliff band and the Lac Courte Oreilles band of Ojibwe to create accessible domestic violence shelters through the Violence Against Women Act.
Jodi had a huge compassionate heart that extended beyond her work. She relished opportunities to use her bilingual skills to help those struggling with a language barrier. Jodi never knew a stranger and engaged in clever conversation with a tish of sarcasm. Her love and ability to interact with animals was something out of a fairy tale. When she was not working on changing the world or communing with wild animals, she could be found reading feminist speculative science fiction. Her joy, smile and laughter will be deeply missed by all who had the great honor to know her.
She is survived by her loving wife Bonnie Denny; her parents, Joe and Pat Hanna; sisters: Angie Bishop and Shari Joslin; nieces: Jaclyn, Jillian, and Ady; nephews: Peyton, Alex, Michael, and Mykal; chosen family: Kyrn, Leon, Rita, Aaron, Molly, Ezi, Erica, Roman, Lucia, Kelly, Ocean, Deb, Tara, Tonya, Katie, and Libby; beloved furry children: Dash and Kennedy; and many other dear friends. Jodi was preceded in death by her beloved Great Grandma Carrie.
Jodi’s family would like to deeply thank the caring staff of the local ambulance service, Mayo Northland Hospital, especially Dr. Amy Muminovic, and special thanks to the supportive nursing friends who came to the hospital to provide gentle loving care.
Bob Lehman
Bob Lehman 67, Grampy to his 13 and under crew, passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully, at his home on Friday, November 18th, 2022.
Bob was born April 6th, 1955 to Kenneth and Charlene (Lee) Lehman in Rice Lake, WI. He spent his early days roaming around Noble Avenue and working at Norswiss Farm with his aunt, uncle and cousins. It was in his time working on the farm that he learned about hard work and the many different ways to complete a task. He graduated from RLHS in 1973 and UWEC in 1978. He married Kathy (Erickson) in 1978 and began his career as a claims adjustor, most of which under his own shingle; North Country Adjusting. Along the way he volunteered as a Barron County Deputy Reserve and had the highest level of respect for the Law Enforcement community throughout his life. He pretty much, almost, retired in 2017 but kept himself busy for a few more years driving bus for the Rice Lake School District.
Whether by design or happenstance, Bob started coaching, specifically hoops, in the early 80’s and never really stopped. Over the years, he coached at every level from ‘D Bracket’ City League to High School Junior Varsity. He passed this passion (and talent? curse?) to his three kids who can still be found roaming the sidelines throughout northwest Wisconsin. The gym became a second home for him, and his fellow coaches and players became an extended family whose influence was felt far beyond the gym. While he was always ‘somewhat’ into cars (read the sarcasm), in recent years he and Kathy discovered a specific interest in all things Jeep. They enjoyed many drives, top down, around the northwoods to nowhere in particular. Many times these drives included a stop at ‘The Joint’ for some raw potatoes and to chew the fat with Butch and family. Another destination on auto-pilot was the Palace in the Popple for hours of work in the woods, chasing whitetails, and intelligent conversation in the shack. And the grandkids. He loved his grandkids. With the world opening back up, he was quickly becoming a fixture at his grandkids activities once more, a tradition started by his parents back in the 80’s.