Barbara Mary Brunner

Barbara Mary Brunner, 76 of Cloquet died Sunday, March 4, 2007 in Sunnyside Health Care Center. She was born June 4, 1930 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Joseph and Gertrude (Hettwer) Schmidt. She graduated from Aitkin High School in 1948. Barbara married her "one true love" Richard Brunner in 1959 in Rochester and they made their home in Cloquet. Barbara was employed at the Moose Lake State Hospital from 1965 to 1975 where she was a pioneer in the Community Based Mental Health Care and initiated the "Likeables" program. She then went to work at Northwest Paper/Potlatch where she worked until retiring in 1992. She had also worked at Ed's Bakery and the Coast to Coast Store. In 1990 she and her husband bought their retirement home in Sturgeon Lake. Barbara enjoyed fishing, hunting and taking trips to Las Vegas with her husband. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Richard in 1998; five brothers, Ernest, Martin, Robert, Arthur, and Norbert Schmidt; and one sister, Marie Lahti. She is survived by her children, Gregory McKibbon of Cloquet, Marlene (Bill) Huima of Esko, Myron Scott (Wendy) McKibbon of Cloquet, and Robin (Tracey) Brunner of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her special nephew, Michael (Joann) Karna of Grand Rapids; sister-in-law, Margaret Schmidt of Mahtowa; 6 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson with another due in July. Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 in Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 102 4th Street in Cloquet. Burial in New Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to donor's choice. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.northlandfuneralhome.com