Obituary of Barbara Gene Wieman

Wieman, Barbara Hill Patnode  09/01/1929 – 09/16/2022

Barb died September 16, 2022, surrounded by family and friends, exactly 5 weeks after her ‘boyfriend Bob’ passed away on August 12, 2022.  They were married 47 years.

Spending time with family and friends was the highlight of Barb’s life.  Barb was very outgoing and easily made long-lasting friendships wherever she went.  She was very accepting of everyone, no matter their background or circumstances; and wasn’t shy about sharing opinions (even when not asked).

Barb loved reminiscing about growing up in Maple Plain and spending summers at Hinds Lake near Park Rapids, but deep down she always considered herself a ‘city girl’.

She graduated from Macalester College in 1954 with a major in Spanish and a minor in English.  Barb also enjoyed many years as a Macalester ‘faculty wife’ during her first marriage to Jack Patnode (who passed away unexpectedly in 1972).  She laughed about all the faculty families being so poor that if you wanted to host a dinner party, everyone had to bring their own food. 

She held many different jobs throughout her life including working as a sales lady at Dayton’s Department Store, which is where she established her fine sense of fashion, including one-of-a-kind accessories; holding estate sales; and eventually selling real estate.  Her love of all things old, authentic and rustic led her to open her own antique store.

Barb enjoyed many diverse hobbies including knitting, rug making, sewing and cooking. She often admitted that she didn’t really like sewing, but she loved looking at and buying fabric.  Even though she was known for cooking and hosting dinner parties, she enjoyed collecting and reading cookbooks even more. Dinner was always a party when another couple joined the table.

Barb is preceded in death by her parents, Murray Hill and Clara Nolan Hill; brother Doug Hill; first husband, Jack Patnode; and most recently her husband Robert (Bob) Louis Wieman. She is survived by her children Jack Patnode (Bobbie), Tom Patnode (Renee), and Maude Dornfeld (Ken); her stepdaughter, Robyn Hansen; stepson, Ward Wieman (Sue); grandchildren Andy Patnode (Laura), Ben Patnode (Rachel), and Celeste, Beatrice, and Hazel Dornfeld; Nathan Hansen (Sarah), Jon Wieman (Catherine), Brian Hansen (Nikki Lockhart), Andy Wieman (Jenni), and John Zender Clarey; great-grandchildren Flora, Alex, and Annabella Patnode, Alex (Cat) and Brianna Wieman, Miles and Jack Wieman, Iris and August Hansen; and great-great grandson, Charlie Brooks Wieman. 

Barb’s passing will leave a large void in the lives of those who knew her best, but the memories of the wonderful times she had with family and friends will last forever.