Barbara J Davidson

Barbara was born June 9, 1931 in Minneapolis, Minn. to Alvin and Evelyn (Jensen) Corcoran. After graduating from Minneapolis Roosevelt High School in 1949, she worked at Northwestern Bell prior to matriculating at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. Barbara majored in Home Economics and graduated from St. Olaf in 1954.

Barbara met David J. Davidson of Rochester, Minn. in 1951 while they were students at St. Olaf. They were married December 17, 1955 in Minneapolis in a large wedding with numerous family and friends. The couple celebrated their 57thth thwedding anniversary together last December.

Barbara taught Home Economics at Red Wing High School (Red Wing, Minn.) and Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis). After her first child was born, Barbara focused her attention on raising the family and being actively involved in church and civic organizations. They moved from Minneapolis to Superior, Wis., to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, and then to Strawberry Point, Iowa for David to work as the Executive Director of Camp Ewalu. Barbara returned to the classroom in 1977 to teach in the Starmont School System. When they moved to Eden Prairie, Minn. in 1989, Barbara worked at Pillsbury in Minneapolis as a Home Economist on their Customer Support Hotline and retired there in 1997. In 2005, Barbara and David moved to Onalaska, Wis.

Barbara was initiated into P.E.O. in 1965 and was extremely proud of her 48 years of membership in this womens philanthropic organization. She was actively involved in the P.E.O. chapters where she lived including her local Chapter DC in Onalaska. In addition, Barbara enthusiastically participated in the LiveStrong program sponsored locally by the Onalaska YMCA and was an advocate and inspiration for other cancer survivors.

Barbara is survived by her son, Mark, and his wife, Jill Davidson, of Onalaska and their children, Clara, Madeline, Caleb and Ben; son, Eric, and his wife, Mary Ann Davidson, of San Diego, Cal. and their children, John and Alyssa; sister, Margaret Olson of Bloomington, Minn.; brother, Al Corcoran of Edina, Minn.; brother, Pat (Carol) Corcoran of Oconomowoc, Wis.; brother, John Corcoran of Apple Valley, Minn.; brother, Joe (Kathy) Corcoran of Hudson, Wis.; seventeen nieces and nephews, and numerous other family members.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, David, who passed away in February; parents, Alvin and Evelyn Corcoran; and brother, Mike Corcoran.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, June 16, 2013, at First Lutheran Church, 410 Main Street, Onalaska, Wis. Pastor Jason Stanton will officiate. A gathering for family and friends will be held from 6:00 8:00 pm Saturday, June 15th at the church and also one hour prior to the service on Sunday. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Camp Ewalu (37776 Alpha Ave, Strawberry Point, Iowa 52076) designated to The Davidson Memorial Fund to honor the years of service and support of David and Barbara Davidson.