Barbara Jean Sordahl

WAKEFIELD — It is with heavy hearts that the family of Barbara Jean Sordahl, of Wakefield, announce her passing. After a several-months-long battle with cancer, she met her Lord in the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at the age of 80. She was surrounded by loved ones.

Barb was born in Wakefield on May 16, 1942, to William and Lena (Wanink) Hocking. She was one of 13 children the couple had. She attended and graduated from the Wakefield High School. In November of 1963, she married her husband, Sonny. His position in the military afforded them the opportunity to travel, living on numerous bases, including Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, Fort Bliss in Texas, and Neu Ulm in Germany. After he retired from the military, they re-turned to Wakefield with their family.

Although she had many passions in life, the most important to Barb was her family. She was a caregiver for six generations of relatives, including her grandmother, mother, aunt and siblings, besides raising her children, and assisting in the care of both grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That passion and desire to help extended even beyond that, however.

Many children in attendance within the Wakefield-Marenisco school knew Barb as the “Label Lady,” or even simply just, “Grandma.” Over the course of almost two decades, she collected, trimmed and counted thousands of dollars worth of milk caps, box tops and soup labels. She even went so far as to host in-school label collection contests, and subsequently, the pizza parties awarded to the students whose class managed to bring together the most for the school.

In her off-time from volunteering, she enjoyed visiting Little Girls’ Point of Lake Superior, where she liked to collect rocks and was an avid puzzler. She had many friends, and was always quick to start a conversation. She always had something to say, and always said exactly what she meant, exactly how she meant it.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Sonny; and their baby girl, LeeAnn. She also follows seven siblings; Norman, Eloise, Howard, John “Jack,” James, Edward and Richard.

She is survived by her children, Jean (Danny), Sheri (Bob) and Sam (Dell); grandchildren, Josh, Christina, Justin, Kirstan, Kelsey and Megan; and sixteen great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Rylee, Jonathon, Jayden, Sam, Tanner, Atlas, Logan, Lilly, Liam, Jace, Maliyah, Caden, Jaxon, Greyson and Catherine. She also leaves behind seven siblings, Doris, Mary, Donald, Roy Susan, Cathy, and Karen; as well as a slew of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her final resting is being overseen by Jerald Rocco at Lakeside Memorial Chapel. Per her request, there will be no service held. She will be peacefully and privately laid to rest in the Wakefield cemetery next to her husband and daughter, as was her wish, marked only as “Grandma.”