Barbara Ann Bullock
Barbara Ann Bullock
April 12th, 1934 – December 11th, 2025
*Author’s Note: The following excerpts in our “Life Stories” are from the Celebration of Life service for Barbara Ann Bullock for you to read, reflect, and pay your respects privately. This wonderful lady lived a beautiful life. Her exuberant smile shown in every single picture of her. It was an honor to learn about her. She will be dearly missed by many.
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As we reflect on Barbara’s 91 years, it may feel like it all went by far too quickly. While no length of time with our loved ones will ever seem long enough, know that it was an absolute blessing to have had Barbara present on this earth for almost a century. Her time here and her time spent with each of you was a precious gift. When your world is feeling a little too empty, may you fill it with gratitude that your time here overlapped with Barbara’s and that you were blessed to know her.
And while the broken pieces of your heart will never quite be the same, know that Barbara would not want your heart to be troubled. May you find comfort in sweet memories, may you find peace in the ways you find her to still be a part of your present, and may you find hope in being reunited with her some day in the kingdom of God.
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I’d like to share with you this poem, and I think it is just so beautiful. It’s all about perspective. While we are letting go, others are welcoming her home.
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side, spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.” Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me— not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!” – GONE FROM MY SIGHT Attributed to Henry Van Dyke
And I think that is something to celebrate. Celebrate her life and beautiful journey into the great beyond. May you know in your heart that she is at peace, she is home now in the loving embrace of our Lord in heaven. She is reunited with the many loved ones she had been missing including her parents, Elmer and Norma, her husband, Richard, her son, Donald, her brothers, Dick and Donald, and many beloved dogs. She is surrounded by love.
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Barbara was born on April 12th, 1934. Raised in Greendale, WI, Barbara lived in many locations during her lifetime, ultimately residing in Kenosha since 1970.
In January of 1983 she married Richard and they grew their precious family together. They enjoyed wonderful times at their cabin on Buffalo Lake in Montello, WI. Together they had a full and fruitful life until his passing in 2003.
In her younger years, Barbara was a nurse. Later, she earned a degree from Gateway and retired from Bullen Middle School as a Library Assistant.
Barbara, lovingly known as Toots, was a self-described cockeyed optimist. Her children describe her as strong, independent, and resilient. She was a devoted mother and doting grandmother. She was completely dedicated to her family and was adamant about families celebrating every birthday and occasion, frequently asking, “When is the next party?” Barbara’s house was a hub of activity and the place where all the kids were welcome and would hang out. She was sure to attend her grandchildren’s events and activities. Even at 90 years old with a walker, she would be at the Tuesday night bike races at the Velodrome cheering on her granddaughter.
Barbara was a very active member of the Southport Quilt Guild and greatly enjoyed sewing. She lovingly sewed play blankets for all the kids in the family. She loved baking Christmas cookies and anything with rhubarb. In the spring, she embarked on rhubarb hunting, and if you had rhubarb, she was coming to get it. If you didn’t know what holiday was next, all you had to do was look at Barbara’s front yard. She changed her yard flags for every holiday. She enjoyed travelling, gardening, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and being sociable. She enjoyed a good Friday fish fry and would check out the Culver’s flavor of the day. She never missed using a Kohl’s coupon, and she was often giving you something you didn’t know you needed. She loved all dogs and kept a ready supply of dog treats in her pockets. She may have loved your dog just a little more than you.
Beloved by all, Toots embodied kindness and warmth, touching the lives of those around her with her nurturing spirit and infectious laughter. She would help anybody in any way she could. She was in tune with community needs and a selfless volunteer. She gave her time and energy to helping with Meals on Wheels, the humane society, and senior transport.
She was featured in a 1998 article in the Kenosha News where she was nominated as a “Good Neighbor.” The article states, “What every neighborhood needs is a couple of Barb Bullocks.” (complete article in pictures)
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Barbara will be forever loved and missed by her children, Douglas, David, Catherine, and stepson Jim, and their families, her 6 grandchildren, DJ, Stephanie, Matthew, Lauren, Celine, and Rebecca and their families, and 4 great-grandchildren, Cheyenne, Adrianna, Adrian, and Catelyn, her dear sister-in-law (more like sister), Maxine, and many other family members and friends.
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These closing songs will conclude the service for Mrs. Bullock. We will usher you up by rows to say your private message of love and farewell, and as Toots would do, make it a Wisconsin good-bye. Say good-bye over here and then over there, and then mingle in the lobby for a bit and say good-bye some more. Then be sure to go to Ruffolo’s II and talk some more and figure out when the next party will be. Keep getting the family together with peace and positivity so that Barbara’s legacy may endure. The sun’ll come out, Tomorrow!
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Barbara, may you rest in eternal peace knowing you are dearly loved.
My sincere condolences and love, Holly