Barbara Cunningham

Barbara J. Cunningham, age 84, a resident of Siren died March 1, 2013. Barbara was born on March 7, 1928 in Coalinga, California to George & Frankie Smith. Barbara attended school in Coalinga, California. Through the years she also lived in Texarkana, Texas and eventually moved to rural Wisconsin in 1974. As a young person Barbara enjoyed leading horseback hunting tours in the mountains of California. Later in life she became a bookkeeper, working for numerous grocery stores and auto dealers in California and Wisconsin. More recently Barbara worked for Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources Ranger Station in Spooner Wisconsin, and finally retired in 2011. Barbara enjoyed hunting, fishing, sewing and crafts. She was a long time member of Burnett County Home & Community Education Association in the Odd 'N' Ends Club. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Richard K Cunningham Sr. Barbara is survived by four children, daughter and son-in-law Rita and Mike Smith, son Wayne Ryan, son and daughter-in-law Richard and Wendy Cunningham Jr., and daughter and son-in-law Minnie Cunningham and Keith Shafer. Barbara also leaves behind 9 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and a very special best friend, Russell Eckstrom. Barbara will be interred at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner beside her husband Richard. A memorial service will be held March 10, 2013 at 2:00 PM at City Church in Texarkana, Texas with the Rev. Robert McCarver officiating. Memorials may be made in her name to Regional Hospice 819 Ash Street Spooner, Wisconsin 54801. Arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Family Funeral Home, Webster. Online condolences can be made at www.swedberg-taylor.com