Obituary of Barbara Jean Harkonen

Barbara J. Harkonen (1949 - 2018)

Barbara Jean (Lewis) Harkonen passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 6, 2018 in San Francisco, CA. At the time of her passing she was surrounded by her family in her home of the past 30 years. Her death marks the end of a rapidly onset battle with lung cancer.

She was born January 28, 1949 in Whitewater, WI to Eri Junior Lewis and Jean Alice (Henderson) Lewis. She was the youngest of four children.

After graduating from Whitewater High School, Barbara attended Drake University. She lived in Denver, CO, Paris, FR, and Washington DC, before settling in San Francisco.

Barbara was an avid hiker, reader, and volunteer. She enjoyed swimming at Lauderdale Lake in the summer with her sister and exploring new recipes for family dinners. She was a member of two book clubs.

Barbara is survived by Kirsten Harkonen (daughter), Wesley Alan Harkonen (son), Nancy (Lewis) Cassano (sister), David Lewis (brother), Ryan Recht (son-in-law) and Dr. W. Scott Harkonen (ex-husband). She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Mary Lewis Desobe. 

Barbara was a loving mother, sister, and friend and will be truly missed. 

Funeral service will be family only followed by an open reception at Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, 550 N. Newcomb Street, Whitewater, WI on Monday, October 15, 2018 from 2pm-4pm.

Memorials can be directed to any of the following:

Ice Age Trail

Touched by a Paw

Lung Cancer Research