Barbara Sprenger

Despite her indomitable spirit and fierce determination, Barb lost her 3½ year battle with a rare and virulent strain of leukemia on Sunday December 1, 2024. Barb passed away, with her husband at her side, at Agrace Hospice Care, at age 69. Barb was born to Dr. Laurence Giles and Audrey Giles in San Francisco, CA on February 7, 1955. The family moved to Madison, WI when Barb was still a toddler and Barb went on to graduate from James Madison Memorial High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Journalism. 

Barb met her future husband Mark Sprenger not long after graduation from college. It was love at first sight for both, and they were married on August 25, 1979. They were blessed with a son, James, in 1983 and a daughter, Jennifer, in 1985.

After her son was born, Barb left her job in public relations and focused on her family and raising her children. When they became teenagers, to be more involved, she worked as a substitute teacher at their high school in Orono, MN. Barb was a loving mother and grandmother always thinking of her children and grandchildren. She was extremely compassionate and kind and will be sorely missed by not only her family, but by her many friends.

Barb was a total extrovert with a zest for life, often being called the life of the party. Her favorite drink was champagne. She had a love of travel taking many trips to various islands in the Caribbean, and to Central America, Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Because Barb loved animals, her favorite trip was a safari trip to Tanzania, Africa to view African wildlife in their natural state. Barb especially loved the family Giant Schnauzer dogs, which influenced her children’s love and fondness for Schnauzers.

Barb was a voracious reader of books and loved to do crossword puzzles. 

Barb was fiercely competitive and her true passions were waterskiing, snow skiing, shopping, and especially anything equestrian. Barb’s love for horses began at a very early age. Barb won many ribbons and trophies in riding competitions and was able to pass her passion on to her daughter and grandchildren. She willingly shared her knowledge about riding and the care of horses with other horse owners, developing many friendships over the years. Barb was still riding horses thru the summer 2024.

During her marriage to Mark, Barb learned to waterski at Mark’s parents’ summer home on Charleston Lake in Ontario, Canada. She took it to the next level waterskiing on the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain in 1999. She was able to continue waterskiing through the summer of 2023.

Barb took up snow skiing as a teenager and loved it. She continued to ski while her cancer was in remission; skiing regularly with a season pass at nearby Devils Head ski resort, and skiing double black diamond runs on a ski trip with her daughter to Breckenridge, CO in the winter of 2023.

Barb loved to shop for clothes and shoes, seeming to always find something to add to her substantial wardrobe. She was proud to say that she almost always found a deal, always telling her husband how much she had saved off the full retail price. 

Barb was preceded in death by her parents, but is survived by her spouse Mark, her son James Sprenger, her daughter Jennifer (James) Morton, her two grandchildren Alaia Sprenger and Soren Sprenger, her three siblings Ellen (Pieter)Folkens, Penny (Nick) Sondel, and John (Margie) Giles, a number of nieces and nephews, and other relatives.

At Barb’s request, her body will be cremated with a private funeral. A Celebration of Life party will be held for family and friends in the Spring/Summer of 2025 where all can share the good times, fond memories, and stories. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred, in Barb’s name, to be given to the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. To make a donation please click on the following link: https://give.wiscmedicine.org

We welcome you to share your memories of Barb here on her tribute wall. 

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406