Lynne L. Barthel

Lynne Lea (Popp) Barthel was the first child born to Howard L. and Helen C. (Packer) Popp on August 24,1947, in Hutchinson, MN.  Following a 6-month hard fought battle with cancer, Lynne passed away at her home in Plymouth, MN on February 20, 2023 at the age of 75.

Lynne graduated from Hutchinson, MN high school in 1965. She attended St. Cloud State University, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She was an active member of the Alpha XI Delta sorority, from which she maintained lifelong friendships. 

Following graduation, Lynne was employed by Peck & Peck at stores in St. Paul, Minneapolis and finally opening and managing the first Peck & Peck store at the Ridgedale mall.  In 1974, she started a new job at AT&T.   She quickly advanced in her career, and in 1999, after working for AT&T for 25 years she retired in the position of General Manager in Operations. 

In retirement, Lynne and David enjoyed traveling, entertaining, home remodeling and decorating, and spending time with their families.  Lynne yearned for something more to keep her busy, and in 2006 she started working for Tiffany & Company.  She was a very successful sales professional at Tiffany, and retired in 2016 after working there for 10 years. 

In 2019, Lynne was diagnosed with end stage renal failure.  Being low on the transplant list for a new kidney, in January of 2020, Lynne's godson Bret was found to be a perfect match, and donated a kidney to his godmother.  Lynne was known throughout the U of M Transplant Program as the “poster child of kidney transplants”.  She enjoyed 3 healthy, wonderful years with this new lease on life.  In July, 2022, Lynne was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.  She was determined to fight with everything she had and remained positive through all her treatments and therapy.  She even hosted the family Christmas celebration in December.

Lynne’s family wishes to thank the University of Minnesota transplant, oncology, and ICU teams, and St. Croix Hospice for their exceptional care.

Lynne was welcomed into Heaven by her parents, father and mother-in-law, Leo and Margaret Barthel, sister-in-law Jeanette Barthel, brother-in-law Ivan Barthel, sister and brother-in-law Janice and Raymond Locher, brother-in-law Daniel Briggs, best friend Mary Nygaard, and fur-babies Kelly and Molly. 

Lynne is survived by her husband David, fur-baby Henry, daughters Taberi (Peter) Scott and Kristin (Bob) Gavin, sisters Nancy Anderson (Chuck) and Maryne Schmidt (Joe), brother Greg Popp (Julie), grandchildren David Michael Barthel (Tiffany), Brett and Megan Gavin, brother-in-law Francis Barthel, sister and brother-in-law Joanne and Alvin Bodin, sisters-in-law Lois Barthel and Marilyn Briggs, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lynne will be greatly missed but always remembered for her spunky attitude, her generosity, her love of fashion, shoes and jewelry, and her stunningly beautiful blue eyes.  Forever in our hearts………….until we meet again.  We love you.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Kidney Transplant Program, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN or to Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners/IOCP in Plymouth.

Please join the family for a celebration of Lynne's life on Sunday, June 4th from 2:00 - 5:00 PM.  Refreshments will be served from 2:00-3:00 PM.  A time of memory sharing and stories will begin at 3:00 PM and all will be welcome for refreshments following the sharing time.

The sharing time will be livestreamed. Please check back to this obituary page and a link will be posted so you may view the event live at 3:00 PM.   A recording will be posted late Monday.

.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lynne L. Barthel, please visit our floral store.