Barbara Ann Rheingans

Barbara Ann Rheingans passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025. She was 80 years old.

Barbara was born on December 23,1944 in Manhattan, Kansas to Richard and Priscilla Pettis. After her father was discharged from the Army at the end of WW II, the family moved into Priscilla’s parents’ home in Evanston, Illinois. Three generations lived together in that house in only 3 bedrooms! The remainder of the house was rented out to seminary students at Garrett Theological Seminary, which is part of Northwestern University and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Barbara and her family were active in the Methodist Church and Barbara was very active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship in high school. Barbara graduated from Evanston Township High School (IL) in 1962.

Afterwards, Barbara attended Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo Hospital School of Nursing, but ultimately concluded her studies in nursing at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Barbara and her first husband, had two children, Mark Keola Priest, born in 1974 and Christopher Wiliam Priest, born in 1977. Barbara worked as a nurse through her career in various capacities, such as an operating room nurse, and a home health nurse. Eventually, Barbara and her first husband relocated to Venice, Florida in 1981. She and her first husband divorced in 1986.

Barbara married her second husband, Ronald (Ron) L. Rheingans, in January, 1988. A “Pop Warner Football romance”, which blossomed while Ron’s son, and Barbara’s son, played on the same team together. After they married, Barbara and Ron ran a small business together in Venice, Florida called Suncoast Engraving and Awards until they retired in 1995. They moved to Wisconsin in their retirement to be closer to Ron’s family. Barbara continued to work as a home health nurse and a hospitalist nurse in Wisconsin for a few years after they moved. They lived in Fox Lake, Wisconsin and then in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where they enjoyed spending time on their pontoon boat, fishing for bullheads and crappie, and the quintessential Wisconsin dining experience: Friday Night Fish Frys with brandy old fashioneds! Barbara loved to watch professional football, and her teams were the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears – it was always a toss up for whom she would cheer when Green Bay and Chicago met on the gridiron!

Barbara and Ron developed health problems in their later years, which necessitated them moving back to Venice, so they could be looked after by family and lived out their years at an assisted living facility in Venice.

Most recently, Barbara celebrated her 80th birthday at a big family dinner on December 23. Two days later, she celebrated Christmas with family and finally on December 29, she

watched her final Green Bay Packers game with her sister, Joan, and brother in law, Ken, at their home – a win over the Detroit Lions!

Barbara was satisfied, happy, and ready to go home – and that she did on New Year’s Day – to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and all the family and friends who preceded her in making the “big transition”.

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother and father, and her husband, Ronald. She is survived by her sisters, Joan (Ken) Priest of North Port, FL; Trudy Wise of Batavia, IL; her sons, Mark (Allyson) Priest of Raleigh, NC; Christopher (Penny) Priest of Oviedo, FL; her stepson, Matthew (Lindsey) Rheingans and her stepdaughters, Kathy (Tom) Royal of Snellville, GA, and Krista (Kevin) Skiba of Malone, WI, and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

A service and remembrance will be held at Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Florida on Saturday, January 25th at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow at Café Venice.