Barbara Ann Tauer

Barbara Ann Tauer (Gurtek), age 84, of Fridley, passed away on November 17th, 2023 after a year's long struggle with ALS.

Barbara was born on June 28th, 1939 to John and Veronica Gurtek in Minneapolis. After Barbara graduated from Mounds View High School in 1957, she attended classes to become a comptometer operator. Barbara started her first job for an oil company where she relocated to Milwaukee briefly. She didn’t love living so far from her family so she returned to Minneapolis and worked for Cargill in their seed corn division.

In 1961, Barbara met the love of her life James at the Withrow Dance Hall and married each other a year later. Barbara and James proudly celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on November 3rd. Life together was very busy with their three children Denise (Karl) Westenfield, Tim (Lynn) Tauer and Steve (Sandy) Tauer.

In 1993, Barbara and James retired and spent the next 30 years traveling the country, spending winters in Cocoa Beach, Florida and spoiling their grandchildren Kristen, David, Andrea, Johnathan, Alyce, Erik and Jessica.  They were also thrilled to have one great grandson with another on the way.

Barbara was preceded in death by parents John & Veronica Gurtek; in-laws Lester and Marie Tauer; siblings Adeline McCallum, Richard Gurtek and Veronica "Toots" Gurtek; and brother in-laws Bob McCallum and Don Norbeck. She is survived by siblings and in-laws Phyllis Norbeck, Virginia (Bill) McCulloch, John (Cathi) Gurtek and Donna Gurtek.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 am Tuesday, November 28th at Church of St. William, 6120 5th Street NE, Fridley (763-571-5600).  Visitation will be held one hour before service at the church.  Private interment.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ALS Association of MN https://www.als.org/mn-nd-sd/about-our-chapter/contact-us