Barbara Jones
November 28, 1942 — November 16, 2012
Barbara Kay (Gjertson) Jones, 69, of Hermantown crossed over to her heavenly home while surrounded by her family at the Solvay Hospice House on November 16, from complications of ovarian cancer.
Barb was born on November 28, 1942 to Victor and Katherine (Mortensen) Gjertson in Sandstone, MN where she graduated from high school as valedictorian in 1960. She attended Macalester College in St. Paul, St. Luke's School of Nursing in Duluth and began working as a registered nurse at St. Mary's Hospital. She continued with her career in the labor and delivery department at St. Luke's Hospital for many years.
After her mother and husband were diagnosed with Lyme Disease she began educating herself about the disease while working for a home IV therapy company, Critical Care America. She formed 14 Lyme Disease support groups in Minnesota and Wisconsin and the Duluth-Superior group has been active now for over 25 years.
Barb obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from St. Francis in 1991, her Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1997 and then started her own counseling practice, Concepts in Caring, which she ran until June 2012.
Her hobbies included decorating cakes, bible studies, camping, skiing, synchronized swimming, and being the #1 fan of her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Robert A. Jones. She is survived by sister Lee Galvin of Newark, DE; brother John (Kathy) Gjertson of International Falls; sisters-in-law Delores Jones of Denver, Elizabeth Skalko of Virginia; daughter Becky (Ken) McMillan of Hermantown, sons Robert (Tammy) Jones of Plymouth, MN, Bradley (Mary) Jones of Hermantown; Step-daughter Robin (Kevin) Bradley of Lakeville, MN; and her beloved grandchildren Lydia & Lindsey McMillan, Gracie, Rachel & Ryan Jones, Olivia Jones and Michelle Bradley.
A special note of heartfelt thanks to Dr. Robert Niedringhaus, Dr. Jonathan Sande, the Solvay Hospice House staff, and the St. Mary's oncology nurses.
VISITATION: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 1, until the 1 p.m. celebration of life, all held at Waters of Life Lutheran Church, 6221 Rice Lake Road, Duluth.
Memorials in lieu of flowers are preferred.