VISITATION & MASS TO CELEBRATE BARBARA’S LIFE WILL BE HELD

Saturday, January 17, 2026
at
Three Holy Women Parish – Holy Rosary Church
2011 N. Oakland Avenue – Milwaukee

Barbara has requested that everyone wear red in her honor.

Visitation: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Funeral Mass: 11:30 AM

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE SUGGESTED TO

South Shore Yacht Club – Barbara Drake Scholarship Fund.
Please call the Yacht Club for details on how to donate: 414-481-2331

 

Barbara Drake

“The Lady in the Red Glasses”

August 2, 1942 – December 2, 2025

Barbara’s life was truly a daring adventure. She was born into the world with energy and determination, arriving on the Chicago scene as a 9-pound baby on August 2, 1942. She was guided throughout her life by the strong values instilled by her parents, Bruno and Marion (née Groth) Schmal, which shaped the woman she became.

Barbara attended St. Pascal’s Elementary School and St. Mary Magdalene Elementary School in Chicago, where her talents and interests began to flourish. As an active member of 4-H, she earned numerous ribbons, most proudly her two State Fair Grand Champion ribbons for a dress she made—an early sign of her creativity, discipline, and exceptional sewing skills. She graduated from Johnson Creek High School in 1960 and earned her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1965. During her college years, she was active in FBLA and Tri-Beta, an honorary biology fraternity.

Barbara devoted her professional life to education. After teaching at Wauwatosa Vocational School and Bryant & Stratton Business College, she spent more than 30 years with Milwaukee Public Schools, primarily at Walker Middle School, South Division High School, and Pulaski High School, where she left a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike.

Her family and her church, Three Holy Women Parish, were always at the center of her life. Barbara was deeply committed to helping others whenever they were in need, and service was never optional, it was simply who she was.

Barbara was unmistakable. She loved the color red—from her red Camaro to her red fingernails to her signature red glasses, which earned her the affectionate title “The Lady with the Red Glasses.” She marked every important moment in the lives of others by sending a card. Birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, and times of sorrow were never forgotten. Christmas was one of her favorite seasons, and her annual Christmas card—often a poetic summary of the year’s most meaningful moments—offered a glimpse into the diary of her life.

She was known for jotting down words of wisdom, humor, or insight on notecards that could be found scattered throughout her home. Barbara held strong opinions and never minced words, yet in one-on-one conversations she was willing to listen and, “maybe, just maybe,” see another point of view—though not necessarily change her mind. She often quoted the Serenity Prayer, reflecting her deep sense of self-determination and courage.

Barbara loved people and thrived on a full social calendar. She liked to be in control and believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right. That spirit defined her leadership at the South Shore Yacht Club, which she joined in 1981 as its first active female member. She served on the Race Committee, was honored with the Erv Nichol Award, and became the first woman to receive Life Member status. She also served for many years as president of the Summit House Board, always leading with organization, precision, and dedication.

She believed that “life is either a daring adventure or nothing,” and she lived accordingly. Barbara once drove to New York simply to see Katharine Hepburn perform in Coco—and proudly returned with an autograph. A lifelong lover of history, she traveled extensively to presidential libraries, Gettysburg, historic mansions, and countless Wisconsin historical sites. She visited every U.S. state except Alaska and Hawaii and traveled internationally to Jamaica, Italy, Germany, Poland, Panama (including a cruise through the Canal), Mexico, and Japan. Her adventures included a hot air balloon ride in Australia, a windjammer cruise in the Caribbean, and a five-day rafting trip down the Colorado River.

As an adult, Barbara remained devoted to city life and never left Milwaukee’s Eastside, fittingly ending her earthly journey in the place she loved. She was also an accomplished seamstress, an excellent cook and baker—skills she proudly credited to her German heritage.

Barbara’s life was rich with purpose, conviction, service, and adventure.

She will be remembered for her strength, her generosity, her unmistakable style, and the many lives she touched simply by being fully herself.

 

Note: The visitation and service information posted here along with this obituary is the property of Heritage Funeral Homes and is published here with permission from the family. If you are viewing it on any website other than www.heritagefuneral.com, please be aware it has been copied without consent and may not reflect the most accurate or complete information.

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