Barbara Hrenchir

Aug. 10, 1954 – Jan. 19, 2018

Barbara Hrenchir, 63, died on Jan 19, 2018 in Apache Junction, Arizona.

She passed away in her husbands arms, the family wrote. She was born in Brugg, Switzerland on Aug. 10, 1954 to Gus and Rita Weber. Her early years in Switzerland brought her memories of her grandmother’s kitchen and garden, along with the Families outings in the mountains.

In 1959 the family saw a documentary on Homer, Alaska and fell in love with the scenery and the resemblances to Switzerland. They packed everything they could and in June of 1959 moved to Homer. Barb attended school in Homer and in 1972 graduated from Homer High School, but not before finding the love of her life, Michael. After a short engagement they married in May of 1973.

At age 19 she showed her chef skills by running the Waterfront kitchen. Her skills did not stop at just cooking; she was a skilled knitter, seamstress, kayaker, skier, rock hound, jewelry maker, fisherman, bird watcher, gardener and quilter. She was an artist in the schools instructor at Paul Banks Elementary School and taught the kids how to make quilt blocks, which she assembled for the school. She also had one of her quilts published in a book. But, of all of her many projects, her most rewarding gift of all was raising her two wonderful kids, Lucas and Casey. She passed on to them her precious life skills.

In 1997, Barb found her dream spot across the Bay in Bear Cove. She and Michael built a dovetail log home along with numerous other buildings to comprise their retirement home. She retired in 2014 with Michael right behind her, and they started living off the grid on Bear Island. They joined a tight knit group in the Cove and are proud to call them family. She loved her mornings on the front porch with coffee in hand and a smile on her face watching all the wildlife. She was always interested in visiting other states and learning their history, so with the itch to try snowbirding, the two struck out for new adventures.

She heard of Apache Junction, Arizona from friends, so that’s where they parked first and she fell in love with everything about the area. She started hiking trails, jeeping back country, rock hounding, making jewelry and visiting the many old historic sites. That is where this story turns very sad, because that’s where her illness showed up, and that’s where she passed away after a short struggle with cancer.

“She was one of the most amazing and gifted people I could ever know in a life time,” the family wrote.

She is sorely missed by her husband, Michael; her loving children, son Lucas with Claire, and daughter Casey with Josh; and five wonderful grandkids, Cade, Jack, David, Olive and Eleanor.

She would have asked all her friends and family to give to their local Hospice, which was a great comfort to her. A memorial service will be planned for this summer in Homer.