Obituary of Barbara Marie Walcome

Barbara Marie (Rengo) Walcome died peacefully at home on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Duluth, Minnesota, at the age of 80, after a short, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Barb is survived by her husband Jack; children Jackie Walcome (Aldo Hertz), Jill Conley (Keith “Boomer” Conley) and Chris Walcome (Bonnie); sisters Marilyn Hanson and Kathy Bennett; seven grandchildren Troy (Erica), Erik (Hannah), Mark (Mikayla), Alexis (Ryan), Octavia, Alectra, and Gemma; and six great grandchildren Chloe, Harper, Millie Marie, Brynn, Isla Wren and Evie. She is preceded in death by her parents Hjalmer Rengo and Sigrid Rengo Olson, and granddaughter Sarah Conley.

Barb was born on March 25, 1944, and grew up surrounded by lifelong friends in the Duluth Heights neighborhood.  As teenagers she and Jack spent many hours skating together at the local rink.  She graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1962, and married the love of her life, Jack, the same year.  In later years they continued skating together and even a few times on Lake Superior and the Lester River.

Barb wore many hats over the years from wiring sauna stoves at Finnleo Sauna, to partnering with Jack at Woodland Liquor Store, to managing the kitchen at Automatic Vending Services (AVS). Her weekends were never quiet. On top of keeping everyone and everything in line at home, she taught Sunday School to preschoolers at Faith Lutheran Church for 25 years.

In 1992, Barb opened Walcome Home Daycare. Over the next 14 years, she brought joy to countless kids, who loved coming to read, play and run around outside at Grandma Barb’s. Many wondered why her TV was always “broken” (the kids got to watch one Christmas movie a year). She continued to follow the lives of her daycare kids by attending many of their events and keeping up with birthdays by sending cards and pictures.

Barb was passionate about Lake Superior and collecting beach glass. Her morning two-mile walk always included a view of the Lake. She said she could never imagine living anywhere else.

Over the years, she and Jack created marvelous gardens of annuals, perennials, vegetables and berries. Many of these spaces are in tribute to loved ones passed.  Being an excellent cook, she used the garden produce to the fullest and also loved to share the produce with neighbors and friends.

Barb was a generous woman who loved deeply. She kept track of friends’ and families’ milestones. Her cards would include recipients’ photos from the past or present or pictures from the garden. While she always praised others’ skills, she herself was a witty writer and had a keen camera eye.

She volunteered at the Second Harvest food bank. She was a founding member of the Historic Central High School Museum, and gave tours of the clock tower to class reunion groups each summer. And when a community matter called to her, she became a tireless advocate, emailing city council members, attending school board meetings, and always voting.

The funeral is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave., Duluth, MN 55807. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Second Harvest Northland food bank at secondharvestnorthland.org. The family would like to thank St. Luke’s Hospice for their swift support and guidance.

Barb will be greatly missed by all of those who had the opportunity to know and love her.