Obituary: Barbara Mae "Barb" Lahde

Barbara May “Barb” Lahde, 83, of Ocoee, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.

She is survived by her adoring husband of nearly 65 years, Elmer “LeRoy” Lahde of Ocoee; daughters, Sheila Wright and Mandy Mathis, both of Ocoee; son-in-law Robert (Susie) Kari, of Ocoee; grandchildren, Brandon (Lauren) Kari of Ocoee, Brianna (Jacob) Loucks of Howey-in-the-Hills, Miranda (Jeffrey) Justice of Winter Garden and Meghan Mathis of Ocoee; as well as 11 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by sisters Marlene St. Pierre, Shirley Sullivan and Joan Aho, and by beloved daughter Vickie Kari.

Barb was born to Albert “Blackie” and Beatrice St. Pierre on Feb. 2, 1939, in International Falls, Minnesota, and moved to Florida in 1972 from Virginia, Minnesota, when her husband, LeRoy, began working as an electrician for NASA and, later, Walt Disney World.

In 1984, the Lahdes opened the former Brass Rail Saloon in Winter Garden, which they owned until 1999. Barb also worked for a time in the meat department for Publix Supermarkets. She was best known for her sense of humor, her famous jalapeño-heavy chili, Million Dollar cookies and doting on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in a manner which was uniquely hers.

A celebration of life will be held at Quest Church at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

Arrangements by Winter Oak Funeral Home & Cremations, Winter Garden.