Barbara (Howard) Lundsgaard

Lundsgaard, Barbara (née Howard) passed away peacefully in her home in Minneapolis, MN on August 8, 2019 at the age of 54.

Barbara adored her immediate and extended family and was a second mom to the gaggle of kids who are constants in the Lundsgaard home. She was a loyal and loving friend, exceedingly and profoundly kind, influencing those around her with her gentle presence. Barbara was a dear daughter and sister and wholly devoted to her husband and sons. Always ready with a kind thought and infectious laugh, she was a delight and cherished by us all.

Barbara was a champion for all wild creatures, but especially elephants and whales, and the big cats she worked to support at the Wildcat Sanctuary. She was most at home in nature and loved skiing or hiking the Aspen mountains and the Alps above her home in Lutry, Switzerland.  She enjoyed the shore, as well, and kept a constant watch out for passing whales or dolphins.

A profoundly gifted photographer without even knowing it, Barbara was able to see meaning in the simple quotidian moments she keenly sensed. Her art was always personal, tailored to each individual and friendship she was honoring. She took time and thought to give to others through the creation of jewelry, ceramics, and felted creatures.

In her final years, Barbara wasn’t defined by the cancer that eventually took her, but by dignity and a quiet resolve to live life to its fullest; she was always more interested in providing empathy towards the people she loved. She found beauty, humor, and meaning in today’s world and comfort from her belief in a higher power.

Barbara’s gentle soul passed peacefully in the presence of her loving husband and sons, her two sisters, and her utterly devoted dog, “Lady” Elvis.

Barbara was preceded in death by her sister, Joanne Hitch (Thomas), and is survived by her husband, Wilson Lundsgaard; sons, Warren Van and Hans Howard; parents, James and Ann Howard; sisters, Deborah Howard and Elizabeth Sellars (Thomas), and eight nieces and nephews. She was a graduate of Breck School ’83 and Simmons College ’87.

A Memorial is scheduled for 2 pm on Friday, August 16 at Colonial Church of Edina, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina, MN 55436. Memorials may be sent to The Wildcat Sanctuary, N Main St, Sandstone, MN 55072. 
 

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