Barbara J Thomas

Barbara “Mimi” Marie (Barter) Thomas, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 11, 2026, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

Barb was born on February 8, 1935, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Robert Laurence and Eleanora Marie Barter. The family moved to Canada when she was young and laterr eturned to Michigan, settling in Frankenmuth. She went on to the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a BSN (registered nurse) and met her soulmate Lawrason “Bapa” Dale Thomas. They married on September 1, 1956 and shared 67 years together until Lawrie’s passing in December 2023.

Lawrie’s career moved the family dozens of times, including a move to Australia when the children were young. Barb made every new place a home. Each time, she picked up a tennis racket, the courts became where she found new friends. In every town, her door was open and anyone who came through it was welcomed like family. Barb was known for her culinary feasts that welcomed everyone at gatherings. Barb made one final move back to Wisconsin, to be near family and her beloved great-grandchildren.Barb, “Mimi”, shared many laughs, hugs and special moments with family.

Barb loved to travel, and she saw the world firsthand with family and friends. She was a talented painter in both watercolor and oil, and some of her favorite trips were with a group of friends who traveled together to “Plein air” paint. Barb taught all of us to see all the colors in anything she painted. At home she played golf and tennis with her women friends and bridge at the card table, and those friendships lasted for decades.

Barb wasn’t much for being in the water herself. But her family loved it, so she loved everything that came with it: weekends at Lake Geneva, late summers in East Tawas,and the time together that the water always brought. Above all, Barb treasured her family and close friends. Being with the people she loved was what mattered most to her.

She is survived by her three children: Bart, Kim (Lou Banach), and Ted (Michelle); he seven grandchildren, Lauryn, Alex (Josh Fritchen), Jared, Connor, Courtney, Ian, and Kara; and her three great-grandchildren, Liam, Carter, and Lilah. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrie, and her great-granddaughter, Callie Eleanora Fritchen,her parents Robert Laurence and Eleanora Marie Barter and many other family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at St Paul’s Lutheran Church at 210 E. Pleasant St,Oconomowoc, WI 53066 on Saturday, November 21 st . Visitation will be from 9:45-10:30am, followed by the service and celebration of life. 

To celebrate Barb’s life, we ask everyone to wear something colorful.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Joslin Diabetes Clinic,https://joslin.org/giving