Barbara Gifford Stevens Point, Wisconsin Obituary

Barbara Gifford

<p>In the morning of October 22, 2022, beloved Barbara Gifford passed away peacefully in her home in Plover, Wisconsin at the age of 79.<br></p><p><br></p><p>Barbara was so many things: a successful local business owner, an environmentalist of national recognition, a Master Gardener, a philanthropist and a profoundly caring and dedicated daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Above all else, through her laughter and her charm, her hard work and determination, she always made the world a better place.</p><p><br></p><p>Born in 1943 in Hastings, Nebraska to Leonard and Marjorie Heyne, Barbara’s formative years were spent in the Evanston, Illinois area where she worked in retail for Marshall Field’s department store. Through a friend she met her husband, Jim Gifford and after four dates they were married in 1963. Their next 59 years together were full of travel and adventure.</p><p><br></p><p>Their first son, William Gifford of Boston, Massachusetts, was born in Evanston. As Jim pursued his bachelor’s, master's and PhD the family lived in Bloomington, Indiana, and later in Riverside, California.</p><p><br></p><p>In Riverside, Barbara and Jim were avid scuba divers while Barbara became a senior buyer for a major department store. Their twin children were born in Riverside–Sean Gifford of Petersfield, England and Kristine Knight of Glen Ellyn, Illinois.</p><p><br></p><p>In 1976 the family moved to Plover, Wisconsin where Jim began teaching at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. At this time Barbara opened up a series of businesses on Main Street in downtown Stevens Point that helped lead to its revitalization. Many will remember the antique and gift shop Sweet Briar which she opened in 1986, and the old-fashioned candy and ice cream parlor Sweet Treats which was opened in 1990. As part of the grand opening, the building underwent historic renovations which are still enjoyed by visitors today. In 1994 the Stevens Point Chamber of Commerce recognized Barbara’s ‘significant contributions’ to the creative enhancement and development of downtown Stevens Point with a Special President’s Award.</p><p><br></p><p>Barbara’s love for the natural world was profound. In her later years she became a Master Gardener volunteer and spent hours watching ospreys hunt on the Little Plover River, which ran through the backyard. In 2005 she founded the Friends of the Little Plover River, a water conservation organization that campaigned to protect natural groundwater from irresponsible irrigation. Through her tireless work she brought together stakeholders from the university, industry, trout fishers, farmers, and the Department of National Resources to find solutions to our diminishing water resources. In 2014 the Little Plover River was put into the national spotlight when it was named the 4th most endangered river in America and in 2018 Barbara was awarded the title “River Champion” by&nbsp;The River Alliance of Wisconsin. Barbara also sought to inspire a new generation of conservationists by running a decade-long educational program called the Little Plover River Appreciation Day which reached over 1,000 schoolchildren.</p><p><br></p><p>Barb and Jim traveled extensively throughout their lives, visiting England, Africa, China, Turkey, the Galapagos, Australia, and they volunteered for Earth Watch while studying lions in Kenya and macaws and parrots in Peru.</p><p><br></p><p>Barbara was constantly giving back to the community and was an active member in the League of Women Voters, the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, and the P.E.O. (a philanthropic educational organization that supports young women).</p><p><br></p><p>She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her Aunt LaVerne Creech (at age 106) and her mother-in-law Onnie. She is survived by her husband Jim, their three children and their adoring grandchildren Evan, Maddy, Lara and Drew.</p><p><br></p><p>Barbara touched so many people with her generosity and kindness and she will be deeply missed. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Boston Funeral Home, concluding with a memorial service at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate her extraordinary life.</p><p><br></p><p>In lieu of flowers, please make donations to River Alliance of Wisconsin, a non-profit organization that works to protect our waterways through campaigning, legislation, and awareness raising at https://wisconsinrivers.org/donate/ or to the Humane Society of Portage County at https://hspcwi.org/donate/</p><p><br></p>
May 24, 1943 - October 22, 202205/24/194310/22/2022
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Obituary

In the morning of October 22, 2022, beloved Barbara Gifford passed away peacefully in her home in Plover, Wisconsin at the age of 79.


Barbara was so many things: a successful local business owner, an environmentalist of national recognition, a Master Gardener, a philanthropist and a profoundly caring and dedicated daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Above all else, through her laughter and her charm, her hard work and determination, she always made the world a better place.


Born in 1943 in Hastings, Nebraska to Leonard and Marjorie Heyne, Barbara’s formative years were spent in the Evanston, Illinois area where she worked in retail for Marshall Field’s department store. Through a friend she met her husband, Jim Gifford and after four dates they were married in 1963. Their next 59 years together were full of travel and adventure.


Their first son, William Gifford of Boston, Massachusetts, was born in Evanston. As Jim pursued his bachelor’s, master's and PhD the family lived in Bloomington, Indiana, and later in Riverside, California.


In Riverside, Barbara and Jim were avid scuba divers while Barbara became a senior buyer for a major department store. Their twin children were born in Riverside–Sean Gifford of Petersfield, England and Kristine Knight of Glen Ellyn, Illinois.


In 1976 the family moved to Plover, Wisconsin where Jim began teaching at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. At this time Barbara opened up a series of businesses on Main Street in downtown Stevens Point that helped lead to its revitalization. Many will remember the antique and gift shop Sweet Briar which she opened in 1986, and the old-fashioned candy and ice cream parlor Sweet Treats which was opened in 1990. As part of the grand opening, the building underwent historic renovations which are still enjoyed by visitors today. In 1994 the Stevens Point Chamber of Commerce recognized Barbara’s ‘significant contributions’ to the creative enhancement and development of downtown Stevens Point with a Special President’s Award.


Barbara’s love for the natural world was profound. In her later years she became a Master Gardener volunteer and spent hours watching ospreys hunt on the Little Plover River, which ran through the backyard. In 2005 she founded the Friends of the Little Plover River, a water conservation organization that campaigned to protect natural groundwater from irresponsible irrigation. Through her tireless work she brought together stakeholders from the university, industry, trout fishers, farmers, and the Department of National Resources to find solutions to our diminishing water resources. In 2014 the Little Plover River was put into the national spotlight when it was named the 4th most endangered river in America and in 2018 Barbara was awarded the title “River Champion” by The River Alliance of Wisconsin. Barbara also sought to inspire a new generation of conservationists by running a decade-long educational program called the Little Plover River Appreciation Day which reached over 1,000 schoolchildren.


Barb and Jim traveled extensively throughout their lives, visiting England, Africa, China, Turkey, the Galapagos, Australia, and they volunteered for Earth Watch while studying lions in Kenya and macaws and parrots in Peru.


Barbara was constantly giving back to the community and was an active member in the League of Women Voters, the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, and the P.E.O. (a philanthropic educational organization that supports young women).


She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her Aunt LaVerne Creech (at age 106) and her mother-in-law Onnie. She is survived by her husband Jim, their three children and their adoring grandchildren Evan, Maddy, Lara and Drew.


Barbara touched so many people with her generosity and kindness and she will be deeply missed. A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Boston Funeral Home, concluding with a memorial service at 1:00 p.m. to celebrate her extraordinary life.


In lieu of flowers, please make donations to River Alliance of Wisconsin, a non-profit organization that works to protect our waterways through campaigning, legislation, and awareness raising at https://wisconsinrivers.org/donate/ or to the Humane Society of Portage County at https://hspcwi.org/donate/


To send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Gifford please visit our Tribute Store.

Events

Oct
29
Visitation
Saturday, October 29 2022
11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Boston Funeral Home
1649 Briggs St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
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Oct
29
Service
Saturday, October 29 2022
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Boston Funeral Home
1649 Briggs St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Get Directions
View MapTextEmail