Barbara A. Gotz

Barbara Ann Gotz age 85 of Pengilly, MN, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025, at Grand Itasca Hospital in Grand Rapids, MN. Barb (Saxe) was born in Racine, WI. She lived most of her early life in Eau Claire, WI. She graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School and the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. In 1963, she was united in marriage to Howard Gotz. They’ve resided in Hibbing and Pengilly since. Barb was an avid reader and belonged to the Nashwauk Book Club. She was a blood bank volunteer and volunteer aid at the Hibbing Hospital for many years. She also worked part time at the Hibbing Elementary School Library. Barb was fiercely devoted to her family and enjoyed keeping track of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For many years she was a busy mother raising her three boys.

Barb is survived by her husband of 62 years, Howard, her sons, Gary (Lisa), Steve (Pam), Dan (Toni), brother, Steven (Lynn). She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Jeffrey, Suzanne (Chance), Benjamin (Bailey), Jessica, Eric, Darian, Maddy (Jose) and 3 great-grandchildren, Anna, Mateo and Addison. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Eileen and brother, Robert.

Special thanks to the caregivers, nurses and doctors at Duluth Essentia Hospital and also at Grand Village Lodge in Grand Rapids. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Dougherty Funeral Home in Hibbing. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until the beginning of the service at 2:30 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Hibbing Public Library or the Nashwauk Food Shelf.