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Barbara M. (Moomau) Wright

Barbara Moomau Wright, age 90, Kewaunee, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Linden Manor Assisted Living in Kewaunee.  Barbara was born December 14, 1928, in Westport, CN, to the late Laurence and Ruth (Thorne) Moomau.  Barbara graduated from Staples High School in Westport in 1946.  She went on to attend and graduate from Women’s College of the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, NC.  After graduation, Barbara made the trek westward as a young single woman to Green Bay for a position with the local YWCA.  It was while in Green Bay that she met her future husband, Lloyd Wright, on a blind date.  Barbara and Lloyd were married January 24, 1953, and enjoyed 45 years of marriage together.  They started their family and lived in Green Bay for several years.  They moved to Kewaunee in 1957 when Lloyd took a position with Leyse Aluminum.  They made Kewaunee their home for the rest of their lives.  After Lloyd, Barbara’s greatest love was being a mother to her children.  She was one of the most encouraging and accepting parents a child could have.  While not afraid to be the occasional enforcer, she was most comfortable and effective in providing nurturing and guidance to her children as they each navigated the triumphs and travails of growing up.  She was not afraid to often inject a little (or a lot of) crazy silliness into family life, in spite of her family’s occasional embarrassment.  Quirky mis-matched outfits and earrings, flashing holiday necklaces, holiday headbands at any time of year, and the occasional “goosing” were all part of her nurturing efforts and keeping any family get together memorable.  As if that didn’t keep her busy enough, Barbara also kept the family fed with the thousands of loaves of bread that she baked, and by keeping the fruit cellar full of the jars and jars of cherries, raspberries, peaches, beets, corn and beans she annually canned, and the innumerable jellies and jams she made.  
Barbara’s heart and true calling was in helping the youth and elderly in the community.  When her family was young, Barbara was an active Girl Scout Leader for many years, and was part of organizing the Kewaunee Youth-Go club that met above the downtown fire station.  As the children grew up and eventually left home, Barbara began working at the Kewaunee Nursing Home.   She was a committed and dedicated volunteer and part-time employee at the home where she served as an “Activities Director”.   She would have done this job for free she so enjoyed it.  She truly loved spending time with the residents regaling them with her infectious and quirky personality, her unique “work” outfits of mis-matched bold colored socks and earrings, her boisterous laugh, her desire to speak with any and everyone.  She so enjoyed wanting to bring joy and happiness to everyone in the home.
Barbara was diagnosed with dementia in her later years which gradually affected her memory and physical and verbal abilities.  But it never affected her core of a kind and happy spirit.  She maintained her upbeat and positive outlook throughout, welcoming every visitor with a warm and open smile, quick to laugh, and always, always remembering to ask about each and every member of the family.


The family wishes to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to Kathy Goija, Ken Secor and the entire staff at Silver Leaf Manor.  Their patience, kindness and understanding shown in caring for our mother and the challenges she sometimes presented will not be forgotten.  We would also like to thank MaryKay Messmann and the care giving staff at Linden Manor for their assistance and care for our mother while she was a resident there.  And, finally, we wish to thank Unity Hospice for their compassion, care and understanding.
Barbara is survived by five children:  Larry (Sue) Wright, Appleton;  Elizabeth Rucinski, Green Bay; Sarah Wright, Chicago; Mary (Jeff) Serafico, Sturgeon Bay; and, Carrie (Pat) Dorn, Luxemburg; twelve grandchildren: Nicholas (Emily) Wright, Brittany Wright (Deavon Mitchell), Daniel Wright, Madeline Wright, April VanderHeyden, Ashley (Jeff) Kempton, Dennis Rucinski, Adrian Serafico, Stella Serafico, Scarlet Serafico, Matthew Dorn and Sawyer Dorn; and eight great-grandchildren: Caleb Wright, Anna Wright, Vera Wright, McKenzie Loberger, Caden Loberger, Jon Loberger, Jr., Braelyn Kempton and Charlie Kempton.


Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd, Sr., her daughter, Ruth, and her son, Lloyd, Jr.  A granddaughter, Alyssa Dorn, a step-granddaughter, Alaya Serafico, and a special family friend, Brian Linzmeier, also preceded her in death.


Friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 4 at Buchanan Funeral Home, Kewaunee.  Visitation continues on Saturday at St. Agnes Episcopal Church, Algoma after 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at 11:00 a.m. conducted by Fr. Rob Hoppe.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to be given to a charity to be determined later.


Love you Mom.  We miss you already, Larry, Liz, Sarah, Mary and Carrie.

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