Scherek, Barbara Ann "Bobbi" (Proshek) age 85, of Annandale, MN, formerly of Roseville, MN, made her transition on Oct 16, 2017, surrounded by family. Loving mother & grandmother, community leader, family matriarch. She filled the world with grace, compassion, and wisdom. Lifetime interests in holistic health, the inner spiritual journey, and gardening were secondary to her love for her family. Growing up in New Prague and St. Anthony Park, MN, Barbara graduated with a BSN from Hamline University. Her long career of "helping people help themselves" began with teaching nurses at Bethesda Hospital, continued 50+ years through leadership positions in the American and International Red Cross, and culminated in mentoring students through the UMN Center for Spirituality upon becoming a certified Holistic Health Coach at age 79. Serving for 17 years on the Board of the St Paul Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC), she was elected its first female Board Chair in 1977. Under her leadership, consensus formed between 50 top area executives, long-range planning was initiated, a leading US blood program was created, and St Paul was selected to pilot innovative ARC programs. She was awarded the Ann Magnussen Award for Outstanding Service, the highest honor bestowed by the ARC. Assigned to lead the preparations of German medical facilities in anticipation of the Persian Gulf War, she initiated recruitment & training of 4000 volunteers, established military family Health & Safety programs, and created a home care program to help returning troops. She received the Clara Barton Award for Exemplary International Service from the International Red Cross. Assisting with Hurricane Andrew in Miami in 1992, she created a broad scale ARC gifts-in-kind program. As Senior Advisor to the Chief Nurse in Wash DC, she helped establish strategic plans to reinforce nursing as the core of the ARC. Of Masonic heritage, she sought out new thought and ways of understanding the world and ourselves. World travel led her to support indigenous cultures, and reinforced for her that care of people and the earth begins at home. She found peace and sacred beauty in the wilderness. Preceded in death by husbands, Dr Jerome J Scherek and William Wegleitner, and daughter Barbara Scherek, she is survived by daughters Kathleen Scherek (Bob Brewer), Teresa Khan MacKay (Greg) and Mary Jo Hennessey (Tim), grandchildren Alexandra Friederichs (Jake), Lucas Martynec, Ben Marty- nec, Maria Khan, Nadia Khan, Julian MacKay, Nicholas MacKay, Lesley Shulman, and Bradley Shulman, and great-grandchild Sophia Grace. Celebration of Life service Sat., Nov 18, 2017. 1:00pm Visitation, 1:30pm Service, followed by light reception. White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple St, Mah-tomedi, MN. Memorials requested to the Jerome & Barbara Scherek Memorial Fund at MN Lakes & Rivers .thedatabank.com/dpg/529/… or 952-854-1317.