Barbara Ann Ochs Downham, age 79, of Eagan, MN, died peacefully on April 27, 2026 at The Pillars Hospice Home in Oakdale, MN. Barb was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children, Christopher Downham and Amy (Mark) Schwanz; granddaughters Brynn and Kyra Schwanz; siblings Mary Eshleman, Anne, Bill (Nancy) and Carolyn Ochs; nephews Doug (Nawshin) and Dan (Kelsey) Eshleman; many loving cousins and friends.
Born in Minneapolis, MN to Vincent and Helen (Esser) Ochs, Barb grew up in St. Paul, MN. She graduated from Our Lady of Peace High School and obtained a nursing degree from the College of St. Catherine, and became an RN in 1968. Later Barb earned certificates in Public Health and as a Nurse Practitioner in Geriatrics.
Barb’s intelligence, skill, and empathy made her an exceptional nurse; she was a trailblazer in the field of nursing in Kentucky and Wyoming in the 1960’s and 1970’s. She found her true calling as a geriatric nurse practitioner, helping countless people navigate the aging process.
Barb loved nature and spending time outdoors. She enjoyed living in Lander and felt most at home in the nearby deserts hunting rocks, fossils, and artifacts. She always planned on returning from Minnesota to Wyoming, where she said her heart and soul resided.
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