Barbara Jean (Barkhuff) Lackens, 81, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died peacefully on March 16, 2018.

Barbara was born on Jan. 22, 1937, in Austin, Minnesota, the first child of Jane Elizabeth (Rypka) and Lowell Dean Barkhuff. A happy childhood was spent growing up in Austin, along with many fun summers at Crooked Lake in northern Minnesota. Barb graduated from Austin High School in 1955. She attended the University of Minnesota, where she met the love of her life, John Lackens, on a blind date in October 1955. They were married on Dec. 28, 1957, and began their life together in Minneapolis.

She and John were blessed to have renewed their wedding vows on their 60th anniversary last Dec. 28, in celebration with their children and grandchildren. On their life’s journey, Barb and John raised a family, built a business and traveled the world.

Barbara was the voice cheering on every person in her family and her positive attitude lifted us all. She will be remembered as a truly lovely, caring, generous and patient lady who embraced being a traditional wife, mother and grandmother. With her inquisitive mind, she was an avid reader and a lifelong learner. A one-time “plant doctor” with Bachman’s, she loved nature, appreciating it in her backyard in Minneapolis, or up at the cabin in Northern Wisconsin or at her home in Rio Verde, Arizona.

She will be forever missed by her husband, John; and their children and their families, Greg, Angi, Sophi and David Lackens, and Cathy, Phil, John, Ben and Grace Homer. She is also survived by her sister, Deanna Andersen and family; and sister-in-law, Barbara Barkhuff. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Jane Barkhuff; and brother, David.

A celebration of Barbara’s life was held on Friday, March 23, 2018, at the Church of the Assumption in St. Paul, Minnesota. The family requests donations in memory of Barbara to Catholic Eldercare on Main (catholiceldercare.org).