Barbara Sue Mary Harris Brandt ("Bobby")

Barbara Sue Mary Harris Brandt (“Bobby”) June 30, 1944 – October 29, 2025.

Barbara Sue Mary Harris Brandt, known lovingly to friends and family as Bobby, was born on June 30, 1944, in Dayton, Ohio, to Robert Ford Harris and Mary Magdaline Haley Harris. She drew lifelong strength from her great-grandmother, Mary Magdaline Stocklin, whose courage in immigrating from Germany in 1860 deeply inspired her.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Arthur Emanuel Brandt, and their children: Joshua Kennedy Nave and grandson Kayden of Colfax; Hannah and David Peterson and granddaughter Elena of Minneapolis; and Maxwill Harris and Jessica Brandt and grandsons Grayson and Brooks of Denver. She also leaves two nephews, Jeff Cook and Michael (Karen) Harris of Dayton, Ohio; sister-in-law and friend Barbara Allred and her adult children Brian (Krista) Allred and Colleen (Mark) Hewlett; nieces and nephews Brooke, Jason, Allison, Jason, Jeremy, Ben, Will, Annie, Asa, and Ruth.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Philip Morris Harris and Lora Ann (Daniel) Cook, as well as nephews Steve Cook and Jay Cook.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother (Nana), and friend, Barbara’s life was filled with curiosity, creativity, and compassion. She was a gardener, librarian, traveler, reader, Democrat, and proud Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters for eight years. Her love of theater, music, books, and the natural world brought joy to everyone who knew her.

Barbara’s ‘up north’ trips with her family (and friends) were a highlight in her adult life. Barbara and Art traveled to Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Puerto Rico, New York City, and beautiful Coronado, California, later in their married life with wonderful students from the UW-Eau Claire Special Education Department and with UW-Eau Claire Swim Team members. They traveled to Spain, Ireland, Coronado, and Ensenada, Mexico (Baja California) by themselves, for fun.

She carried poetry and music in her heart and leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and learning.

She will deeply miss Art, her children and their partners, and her grandchildren; she wants them to know how proud she is of them. She will miss her dear friends Marion Lang of St. Paul; Sally White King of Lyons, Colorado; Pat Kaufman of Oxford, Ohio; Bev Dinger of Seattle, and Pam Tripp, her childhood friend from Dayton, Ohio; and her beloved mah jongg buddies: Judy (our master), Janet, Caryn and Margo; and Jewell, her BBBS little sister.

Her family wants to thank the love, care, and support she was provided in her final months from St. Croix Hospice, especially Cindy and Kari.

Please donate to your special cause, as long as it’s a food pantry of choice, a public library, or Big Brothers Big Sisters, or learn to play mah jongg.

To share a memory or photos, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com