Barbara "Bobbie" Jeanne Krumm Nelson's Obituary
Barbara Jeanne “Bobbie” Krumm Nelson – loving and beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and grandmother – passed peacefully from this world on March 30, at the age of 91, embraced by her loving children.
Barbara was born on January 13, 1934, in Elroy, Wisconsin, to Clarence Joseph Krumm and Margaret Thelma (Morgan) Krumm. “Bobbie” completed their family, following her older sister, Margaret “Peggy” Jeanne Krumm Martiny.
The Krumm family moved to Wonewoc, Wisconsin, before settling in the small town of Baraboo, Wisconsin. Growing up, Bobbie was a social butterfly with a large group of friends; this never changed throughout her life. She performed with the Baraboo High School band as a majorette and a flautist, retaining for many decades the intricate melody of the piccolo solo from John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Bobbie came from a long line of educators, and education was a lifelong value. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she proudly served as President of the beta chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She married her fellow Baraboo native, longtime friend, and sweetheart, Maurice Clifford Nelson, on June 23, 1956; they were married for 67 years, until his death in 2023. Barbara taught grade school in Racine, Wisconsin, while Cliff completed his MBA, then began many years of moving around the country as Cliff climbed the corporate ladder in General Electric’s management program.
While based in Portland, Oregon, Cliff and Barbara began their family with daughter Cindy Lynn and son Gregory Mark, and completed it with youngest Kristen Leigh while they were living in Decatur, Illinois. Barbara was a nurturing and present mother, and an active member of her community. She created a warm and welcoming home, excelled at the domestic arts as a talented cook and seamstress, and enjoyed playing duplicate bridge, golf, and tennis with friends.
In 1978, as Cliff continued his marketing career, the Nelsons settled in Dallas, Texas. As their children grew up, Barbara went to work for Sanger Harris department store (now Macy’s) in clothing sales, eventually becoming a merchandiser for the Liz Clairborne brand. Once she finally retired (in her mid-70s), Barbara became more involved in political activism, serving as President of Bentwood Republican Women.
Barbara was a joiner, a leader, and a lovable overachiever. She was a woman of great faith, growing up in the Methodist Church, but converting to Lutheranism as an adult; she was a devoted member at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for 47 years. She was an avid sports spectator who especially loved the Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers, as well as fashion – particularly footwear, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, reading, and puzzling. Barbara was delightfully musical, a strong singer who remembered every tune and lyric she ever learned, and had a definite flair for performing – often entertaining her family with sudden-onset musical numbers, complete with choreography.
Barbara was a Gold Life Master bridge player, only a handful of points away from achieving Sapphire status – an accomplishment of which she was extremely proud. Her passion for a good bridge game was second only to her love for her family and friends. She was a charming little hummingbird of a lady, garrulous and expressive and energetic and funny, and will be so deeply missed.
Barbara is survived by her children Cindy Nelson of Justin, TX, Greg (Laurie) Nelson of Fort Myers, FL, and Kristen (Hank) Card of Austin, TX; her grandchildren Rachel Martha and William Nelson Card, and Mark, Eric, and Greg Salter; niece Barbara Daily, and many other beloved nieces and nephews; and a few cherished cousins.
Barbara’s family wishes to thank the Pathways staff at Prestonwood Court, as well as the gifted caregivers at the T. Boone Pickens Center/Faith Presbyterian Hospice, for their invaluable support and tender care. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Barbara’s memory with a contribution to Faith Presbyterian Hospice (faithpreshospice.org), Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
A memorial service for Barbara will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 7611 Park Lane, Dallas, Texas.
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