In honor of a life that left footprints of love, song and laughter.
Obituary
God welcomed Barbara Eleanor Sarrack (Burch) home January 25, 2026, just shy of her 89th birthday, leaving behind a void that can never be filled. She is survived by her loving husband of 69 years, Gust Richard Sarrack, sister Cynthia (Peter) Cambier, children Tamara (Scott) Koester, Twyla (Tim) Lynch, Anthony (Martha) Sarrack, Chris (Kelly) Sarrack and many grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Byron Burch.
Barbara was born in Wichita Falls, TX, to parents Silas and Eleanor Burch on February 11, 1937. After moving to St. Paul, MN in her teens, while at a high school dance, she met Gust Sarrack, the love of her life. Coming from different denominations of Christianity, at the age of 19 she and Gust went on a "hunting trip" to Iowa, where they eloped. In their first years of marriage, while Gust served in the navy, Barbara continued through her sophomore year at Gustavus Adolphus College. They then spent two years in both Oahu, Hawaii and San Francisco, CA before settling in Maplewood, MN where over the following 50 years they raised their family and formed many dear friendships.
Barbara's creative side shone with the detailed matching outfits, cheerleading uniforms and Halloween costumes that she sewed for her family. She kept her mind sharp, taking piano and guitar lessons, singing in the choir, taking cake decorating and Spanish classes. No one enjoyed friendly competition more than Barb did, as was apparent when on a dare, she waterskied the perimeter of Lake Miltona or finished second in her age group in the King Boreas Cross Country Ski Race at the 1983 St. Paul Winter Carnival. Barbara passed her love of nature and the outdoors on to her children, making multiple trips to the Boundary Water with children and grandchildren, canoeing Wisconsin's Namekagon River, summiting Angel's Landin in Zion National Park with Gust not one, but seven times and hiking the Grand Canyon with girlfriends to celebrate their 50th birthdays.
Once she and Gust became empty nesters, Barbara opened up two card and gift shops, which she ran until she and Gust retired and became full-time RVer's. For several years, they lived on the road, visiting a majority of the United States, until settling on a remote 40-acre lot off the the grid, outside of Yucca, AZ. Church was the bedrock of Barbara's life, where she met some of her closest friends. Whether it was Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Maplewood or the Light in the Desert Church in Yucca, Bible studies, couples clubs, singing in the choir and pot lucks were all integral parts of her life.
Barbara's Celebration of Life will be held at the Light in the Desert Southern Baptist Church of Yucca, AZ on February 28, 2026 at 2:00 with a reception to follow.
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She loved singing and was an inspiration!
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Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Barbara embodied throughout their life.
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