Obituary
Barbara Ann (Chick) Bristow
Barbara Ann (Chick) Bristow, 51, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on June 18th in her home in Onalaska, surrounded by family, friends and those she loved. She was born on November 1st 1962 and was later adopted February 15th 1963 by Gib and Letty Chick. She married John Bristow, the love of her life, on August 14th 1982 in LaCrosse.
Barb’s family was very important to her; she spent many hours with them. Much of the time spent with her family was at her two son’s sporting and musical events, of which Barb was always proud to say that she rarely missed. Barb was on the board of directors for the Onalaska High School Show Choir Program as well as the president of the Onalaska High School Band Booster Club, and through those two activities, she met many life-long friends. Barb treasured the time she spent playing Bunco with her friends, and taking long walks with her husband and their two yellow labs, Gunner and Riley. Barb also loved to read and comment on numerous breast and metastatic cancer blog posts, and one of her favorites, called Nancy’s Point, had a line that Barb always identified with, it reads: “I always come back to the fact that every person is entitled to live and tell their own cancer truths.”
She was survived by her father and step-mother, Gib and Kay Chick, her husband, John, her oldest son, Michael and his beautiful wife, Emma, as well as her youngest son, Daniel. Barb was also survived by her sister, Patty Parr, and her husband Dave along with Barb’s brother David Chick. Her mother-in-law Jan Bristow, her brother-in-law David Bristow, and his wife Lois, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pam Foelske and her husband Dan, and brother-in-law Paul Bristow. Her step-brother Kurt Yonts and his wife Eve, and her step-sister Cheryl Miller, along with many nieces and nephews.
Barb was preceded in death by her mother Letty Chick, and her father-in-law Raymond Bristow.
Barb and her family would like to sincerely thank everyone who has made a positive impact on her life over the past 51 years, most importantly the last five. Especially the Power Rangers, the doctors and nurses in the Oncology Department at Gundersen Health System, her wonderful support system from Mcloone and the Brenengen Auto Group as well as many other friends and family.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 410 Main St., Onalaska. The Rev. Jason Stanton will be the celebrant. Interment will be held at the Onalaska City Cemetery. Visitations will be held on Monday, June 23rd from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Coulee Region Cremation Group, 133 Mason St., Onalaska and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.
Donations can be made in memorial to the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition or to Gundersen Hospice.
Barb did not lose her battle with cancer; she lived graciously and courageously with it until the very end.
I know Barb from high school and did not realize she had passed. Prayers for peace for your family. She was a kind and thoughtful person.