Barb Zimmerman

Barb Zimmerman, age 60 - passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, July 12, 2015, at home after a courageous and well-fought battle with cancer over the last 10 months. Barb (affectionately known as “BooBoo”) was born in Racine on June 28, 1955 to Harvey and Doris (nee Griffith) Zimmerman. She lived her entire life in Racine, the last 30 years with her husband and best friend, Brent Genke. Together they followed their passions for music, NASCAR, travel, eating, and remodeling their homes. She lived a complete, active and full life.

Barb was smart, inquisitive and witty. She graduated from Park High School, a year early, in 1972. Following her completion of cosmetology school, Barb worked at Mr. David’s Hair Salon. But then her passion for managing and her strong planning skills came to the fore. Over the coming years, she worked at a variety of local businesses including St. Luke’s Hospital, Curative Workshop, Sentry Foods, Rainbow Foods, SuperSaver Foods, Piggly Wiggly (in both Racine and Kenosha), and All Saints Healthcare in Laboratory Services.

Barb had many interests. But perhaps more than anything, Barb loved spending time with her family. Over the last few years, she spent every Tuesday evening with her mother playing cards and helping her with her hair. She played in a weekly racquetball “league” with her sister with the winner toasted at a twice-a-year annual “banquet.” And she reveled in the accomplishments of her nieces and nephews and their children. She was a role model to all – in the words of one nephew: “She was a strong willed woman who always lived life on her own terms and wasn't scared to tell anyone who told her different.” She will be dearly missed.

Surviving are her mother Doris Zimmerman; husband Brent Genke; sister Carol (Greg) Anderegg; nieces and nephews Joey (Jamie Sode) Zimmerman, Samantha (Eric) Boticki, Abby (Dan) Peterson, Matt Zimmerman, and Danielle Anderegg; grandnephew Cashton Peterson; grandniece Chandler Peterson, special cousin Kriste (Lloyd) Strasburg; special friends Brenda (Marc) Lois; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, her father and her brother Bruce Zimmerman.

Barb’s life will be celebrated, Saturday, July 18, 2015, 11:00 A.M. at Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home (803 Main Street, Racine) with Pastor Kaye Glennon officiating. Relatives and friends may meet Friday at the funeral home 5:00-7:00 P.M. and Saturday at the funeral home 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Health Care Network or the All Saints Healthcare Foundation have been suggested.