Barbara Stauss

Barbara Stauss (nee Zalesak) of Waukesha died on Monday, March 6, 2017 at the age of 76. She was born on August 11, 1940 in Racine, WI to Veronica Sheforgen and Charles Zalesak who both preceded her in death. Barbara was a 1958 graduate of St. Catherine’s High School.

While her children were in grade school, Barbara volunteered in Madison as a Girl Scout leader and speaker of Dialogue on Drugs, eventually serving as co-chair of the committee that wrote curriculum for drug education in Madison Public Schools.

After moving to Waukesha in 1970, Barbara volunteered on the YWCA Program & Planning Committee and as a Girl Scout Leader. In addition, she served on the Great Blue Heron Board of Directors where she held the position of Field Vice President. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Hebron House, St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic and Waukesha Co. Community Council.

Once her daughters were in school full time she was hired as the first director of Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. She later was employed by Greater Milwaukee Chapter of American Red Cross as Waukesha County Regional Manager for over 20 years. In addition to her regular duties she also volunteered as part of the management team for large major disasters including Hurricane Hugo and the Northridge Earthquake and other disasters throughout the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico. After retirement from the chapter, Barbara served as a consultant in staffing of major disasters for the American National Red Cross.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Robert, sister Sandra and brother Donald.

She is survived by dearly loved daughters Karen Stauss (Ray Martinez), Wendy Becker, Chrisann (John) Anderson; her grandchildren Michael and Santana Becker, Melissa (Greg) Schulz, Robert and Connor Martinez, Jacob (Brittany) Stauss, David, Heather and Angela Anderson and great-grandchildren Logan Becker, Zorica and Zeus Firkus, Barbara Schulz, and Skyler, Colton and Blake Stauss. She is further survived by her brothers Greg (Kay) Zalesak and Jeffrey Zalesak, sister Terry (Bill) Sechrest, and sisters-in-law Jean (Jimmy Stacy) and Carol (William Derby) along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will take place Saturday, March 11, 2017 from 10:00AM until the time of the 11:00AM funeral Mass all at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 2400 W. State Hwy 59, Waukesha, WI 53189. Father Jose Nieto will preside. Private burial for the family will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Racine.