In Memory

Barbara Hoppenrath (Gosnell)

Barbara Hoppenrath (Gosnell)

 

Barbara Ann Hoppenrath (Gosnell) died at age 59.  She lived at Marine on St. Croix, and died accidentally in California, on Feb. 23, 2000 in an auto accident, along with her husband and our classmate Joseph Gosnell III.  She was preceded in death by her father, Archie Hoppenrath.  She was survived by mother, Ida Hoppenrath, brother, Kenneth Hoppenrath, both of St. Louis Park; aunts Maxine Larson of Anoka, Bernice Hoppenrath of Elroy, WI, and Margaret Tulien, Litchfield; and numerous cousins.  She was a loving mother to sons Scott Wibbens of Burnsville and David (Kim) Wibbens of Lakeville, and a grandmother to Katelyn.  Her family misses her deeply.  So do we.

After high school, Barb attended the University of Minnesota for Nursing, but "it was so very impersonal".  She decided to leave the U to work for IDS as a receptionist/key puncher/data entry person.  At IDS she met and married Donald Wibbens.  They built a home in Burnsville and had sons Scott and David.  Barb strived to be the perfect homemaker.  "I love doing a lot of physical things, such as mowing the yard, trimming the trees, working with flowers, feeding the birds, cleaning the garage and house, painting the walls, and I love vacuuming!  I enjoyed sewing all of my clothes for many years and love cooking."  She had a passion for gardening and always had the finest garden and yard on the block. 

Through the years, Joe Gosnell remained Barb's "best friend" and confidant.  After ending her marriage in 1984, Barb and Joe dated for 12 years and then married in 1996.  They had a private little ceremony in a church at Marine on St. Croix, which eventually became their home for the last years of their lives.  They took great pride in becoming grandparents. 

Although a tragic and senseless accident took Barb away from us way too soon, we will always think of her and remember her kind and generous nature and her beautiful smile.  Barb lived for the class reunions.  Joe gladly opened his home for our Class Reunion planning committee meetings for many of our reunions over the years when he was single.  Barb was always there and loved participating in the planning.  Since Barb and Joe really renewed their acquaintenship at our 20th Class Reunion in 1978, and dated for 12 years, from 1984 to 1996 (when they finally married) we watched and admired as we saw them grow so close together and share their lives.  After our 40th reunion our planning committee met at their home in Marine of St. Croix, and were in the process of putting together our 45th reunion, to be centered in Stillwater, MN, when their auto accident took Barb and Joe from us. 

Even though Barb and Joe could not be physically present at our 45th, and 50th Class Reunions, from all they said and did for our class we are confident that they will always be there in spirit and in our hearts.  Both are interred in Oakland Cemetery.







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