Barbara Sorenson Rambadt

Barbara Sorenson Rambadt (nee Barry) entered peacefully into heaven on September 22, 2026, at the age of 89, surrounded by the love of her family.

Barb was the daughter of the late Marian K. and Leonard S. Barry. She was preceded in death by her husband Gerald (Jerry) Sorenson, husband Donald Rambadt, and by her brother John Barry. Barbara is survived by her children Julie (Ken) Welsh, Sue (Scott) Bechtel, Tom (Sue) Sorenson and John (Leah) Sorenson, brother Bill (Susie) Barry as well as her grandchildren Katelyn Welsh, Matt Welsh, Karyn Bechtel, Joe (Makenna) Bechtel, Mike Sorenson, Steve Sorenson, Paul Sorenson, John Sorenson, Christina (Alex) Bedinghaus, Madeline Sorenson and Natalie Sorenson, great-grandson James Bedinghaus, step children Jenny Brown, Don Rambadt, step grandson Sawyer Brown, and many nieces, nephews other relatives, and friends.

Barb was born and raised in Wauwatosa, WI, and spent her summers at the Barry family cottage on Upper Nemahbin Lake. She developed her love for art, music, and ice skating at a young age. After graduating from Wauwatosa High School, Barb went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a degree in Occupational Therapy and met her husband Jerry Sorenson. After an internship as an OT in Hawaii, Barb and Jerry were married in 1959. They raised their four children in an old farmhouse in Hartland, WI. The house was always full of laughter, music, art projects, Saturday Badger football games on the radio, pets, and lots of love. The house also served as Barb’s art studio for watercolor paintings, the yearly Christmas card, clay-baked ornaments and painted golf balls. Many good times were spent at the Sorenson family cottage in Manitowish Waters, WI, and on family ski trips.

While she was always an artist, Barb developed her watercolor painting to an especially high level in the middle of her life and attended numerous art shows around the state where she exhibited her watercolor paintings and played her banjo or accordion, sharing her love of music along with her art. She played in several bands, visiting people in senior homes (as a senior herself), sharing music and cheer. With her second husband Don, she had the opportunity to go to Europe twice a year. She painted her way across the continent for a couple of decades and has a large number of beautiful watercolors of Europe that she has left as part of her legacy.

Barb was very active in numerous groups and organizations, including Bark River Elementary School when her kids were young (as Brownie Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, and playing the banjo on the bus for numerous school field trips), the Manito Art League, Wisconsin Watercolor Society, and PEO. She was a longtime member of First Congregational Church in Hartland, WI.

Barb had a sunny disposition and was quick with a funny quip or phrase. She loved holidays with her grandchildren and filled them with music, gifts, and cheer. Barb made the world a better place with her many talents, positive attitude and the care she showed to everyone, always going out of her way to make others feel special.

The family wishes to extend thanks to the staff and Pastor Nick at Shorehaven in Oconomowoc, WI, Brighton Hospice, and special friend and caregiver Sharon for their care and support.

A visitation for Barb will be held at 12:30 pm on Sunday, October 11th at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Merton, WI. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to HAWS (Humane Animal Welfare Society) of Waukesha County https://hawspets.org/give/ or Wildlife in Need Center, Oconomowoc, WI https://helpingwildlife.networkforgood.com/projects/162715-membership.