Barb Hyke

Published June 03, 2020 at 12:14 PM

Barbara Lee Hyke, 73, passed away surrounded by family May 27, 2020. She was born to Marvin and Esther Graff in West Allis, WI November 15, 1946. Barb graduated from Brookfield Central High School in 1965. She married Ray Frentzel and moved to La Crosse, WI where she was a stay-at-home mom to their two children Cindy and Jason; they later divorced. Barb worked in sales at Wettstein’s and Happy Sleeper in La Crosse. She then attended Sister Geffre’s School of Massage in Rochester, MN. During this time, she met Don Hyke through her love of dancing and music; they married in 2001. Barb owned and operated Garden of Healing Massage where she had numerous, faithful clients.

Barb’s passion was gardening and enjoyed her time as a member of the Rochester Garden and Flower Club. She danced at the VFW and American Legion almost every weekend and practiced tai chi and chi gong. She spent winters in Mesa, AZ where she found a whole new way of gardening with desert landscaping. She liked to explore Arizona farmers markets, shopping with friends, and dining at cowboy bars. Family was so important to her and she made sure to spend time with her loved ones making every event special. She felt so blessed and had the most positive outlook of anyone, even until the very end.

Barb is survived by her loving husband, Don; children Cindy (Scott) Odegaarden and Jason (Chelsea Bresina) Frentzel; step-children Tom Hyke, Dan (Kathryn) Hyke, Jon (Sylvia) Howard and Meredeth Howard; fourteen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; siblings Sherry (Tom) Dobson and Larry (Melissa) Graff and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family held a private memorial and plan a Celebration of Life later. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society.