Our mother, Barb Smith, passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on July 12, 2023.
She was born in Chicago, IL, in 1934, and lived in the Norwood Park area. At the young age of 16, she was accepted on a full scholarship at the University of Chicago. Upon graduation, she entered law school and it was there that she met R. Marlin Smith. They married and moved to Evanston, IL in 1960. Barb and Marlin were young liberals, fervent Democrats and active in the civil rights protests of the sixties. Barb also enjoyed cheering for her Chicago Cubs – a loyalty which was rewarded only once in her 89 years. Barb and Marlin had three children, Dana, Linda, and Robbin who all attended public school in Evanston, before they each moved to other parts of the country and the world. Barb and Marlin travelled widely in the U.S. and abroad and enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.
Marlin passed away in 1986 and, after decades as an elementary school teacher, Barb moved to Argyle, Wisconsin in 1999. Here she fulfilled an early dream of living on a farm and owning a horse, (first one, then many others.) Her social life revolved around horses and riding. She loved riding with her friends at Yellowstone Lake, Donald Park and other equine oriented trails. We would like to thank Tricia and Finn for their constant effort in recent years to keep Barb active including making it possible for her to ride her horses Fred and Starburst well into last year.
Not only did Barb become an accomplished horsewoman, she also learned about ongoing conservation efforts here in the Driftless Area. She developed a keen interest in prairie restoration and worked endless hours out on her own prairie tract. She also volunteered with The Prairie Enthusiasts and the Driftless Land Conservancy.
With her beloved therapy dog, Suzie, she visited residents at Pleasant View Nursing Home and patients in hospice care. She also volunteered with the Red Cross and the Argyle Public Library. She was generous with her time and compassionate with others.
We would like to thank Doctors Rizwan and Evenhouse, as well as the nursing staff at SSM Health in Monroe for their compassion and honesty during Barb’s last days. We were able to be with her and to surround her with the images, sounds, and smells that encompassed her love of the farm, music, and laughter.
Barb is survived by her three children; her daughter-in-law Shrue; nine grandchildren, Sharisey Wells, Marlin and Shana Lee Ling; Guillermo, Dani, and Andrew Marchesi; Marisa, Alessandra, and Matt Mitrano; as well two great-grandchildren, Evan and Skylar. She is also survived by her two nephews, Harold and Jerry Johnson, and her niece, Barbara Wilhelm.
