Barbara Ann Sterling (Barbie) 86, The Villages, FL passed on December 18, 2025, finally at peace and rest, at Hearthstone Assisted Living in Wildwood, FL.  Barbie was born March 29, 1939 in Spooner, WI.  Her parents were Vernon and Anna (Rich) Osenrath.  Her parents divorced and Barbara was adopted by Anna's new husband Lenice Larson. She graduated from Spooner Highschool and began a three-year study to become a nurse.  She was very confident and setoff to see the world as an Untied States Army nurse in Cardiac ICU.  While serving as a first Lieutenant she met a young officer, career soldier Douglas Frederic (Fred)  Sterling and they married February 24, 1962. He was Active Duty and deployed overseas in Europe, Asia and Hawaii. Barb loved the travel and sightseeing and photography but not so much the officer's wife responsibility.  She loved travelling by  herself or with kids Skiing in the Alps and train and bus rides all  over Europe.

She is survived by her best friend and significant other Ken Klawitter; her son Douglas F. Sterling Jr. and wife Debbie of Cassadaga, NY and daughter Dana M. Sterling of Colorado Springs, CO.  Younger Brother Greg Larson and wife Janeen, of Troy, MT.  Sister Kathy Larson (Jim); four grandchildren Armond, Chance and Astra Maron all in the Denver CO.  Jennifer  Sterling from Lebanon, OH and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by (Fred's)  passing, August 02, 2012. her parents, and her younger brother Lenice Larson in Hudson, WI.

Barbie thought of small-town Spooner, WI as a place no one would know about but Ken did know all about Spooner, to her surprise, and she knew the hand of God placed them together.  There are no such things as  coincidences.

That Alaska trip is how we became Barbie & Ken. She was a long-time member of the Colorado Club in The Villages.  Barbie and Ken were unofficially married at sea in 2014 on a trip to St Maarten with the Colorado Club on Easter Sunday evening. She loved Alaska, cruised the Danube and visited Prague, the Panama Canal, St. Lawrence Seaway and of course trips back to Colorado.

She was a light to every room she entered, but never deliberately sought attention.

Her church, Rock of Ages Lutheran , Wildwood, FL was one of her greatest loves.

She will be interred at Florida National Cemetery , Bushnell, FL Date TBD

To paraphrase writer C. S. Lewis: Grief and pain are the price we pay for the love and total commitment we have for another person. The more we love the deeper the hurt.  Honestly, would we have it any other way?

Arrangements entrusted with BALDWIN BROTHERS Funeral & Cremation Society-Spanish Springs, 352-430-1449.  Sentiments are encouraged at www.baldwincremation.com .