Deborah J. Farrell

Deborah J. Farrell, 74, of Arbor Vitae, passed away to be with her heavenly Father on Tuesday, March 31, at her home with her family by her side.

She was born in Chicago and grew up in a family with eight siblings. She went to Morgan Park High School. She was an excellent gymnast and loved to dance growing up. She loved spending her summers with her grandparents, Wimp and Pop on the ocean in Spring Lake, New Jersey. She met the love of her life, Craig, during their high school years. They were later married on July 27, 1968. They moved to Oostburg in 1977 and raised their three boys there, Craig Jr., Mike, and Brian. They shared 57 special years together and truly enjoyed each other’s companionship. 

Deb was a homemaker while the boys were young. She then worked in retail at Younkers as the Lancome lady and a model for their clothing in Sheboygan, Hardware Hank in Cedar Grove, and when they moved to the Northwoods in 2000 she worked at Ace Hardware in Woodruff. She made life long friends at each place. Deb had a deep love of flowers and ran their greenhouse for several years. She worked to become a certified master gardener and created the most beautiful gardens around their home.

Deb was a very loving and caring individual that was always willing to lend a helping hand when needed. She had a fun loving personality that made you smile, and she had a gift for making you laugh. She cherished being around her family and had a special bond with her granddaughters and great granddaughters. She always stressed how blessed she was to be able to be around to watch her granddaughters grow up. Her three great granddaughters were born during the time she was fighting cancer. She felt very fortunate to be their “Other Nana.” 

She loved the outdoors being in God’s creation. She enjoyed hiking with their dogs, gardening, bird watching, boating, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. She also was a true artist and made quilts, stained glass, beautiful drawings and paintings including portraits of her granddaughters. She loved her church family at the Foundation Church, and appreciated all they did for her during her illness. 

Deb had a gift of making people laugh and smile. She will be known for all the caring things she did for others. She was always willing to lend a hand or take family members in when they needed help. 

Deb is survived by her loving husband, Craig; her children, Craig Jr. (Patti) Farrell, Mike Farrell, and Brian Farrell; her cherished granddaughters, Haley Farrell (Blake), Megan Farrell (Tate Olson), and Ellie Farrell; and her precious great granddaughters, Layla, Hayden, and Ella Farrell. She is also survived by her siblings, Susan Crabtree, Michael Crabtree, Steve (Ann) Crabtree, Betsy (John) Coughlin, and Barbara Crabtree and many loving nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her father, Herbert Crabtree; mother, Florence (Crane) Crabtree; and her siblings, Skip Crabtree, Jeff Crabtree, and Diana Crabtree. 

Deb was a fighter and battled stage four cancer for over nine years. The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice Care and all the doctors and nurses at Marshfield Clinic in Minocqua, especially Dr. Lee and his staff for their exceptional care they provided during this time — she truly loved them all.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, April 4, at the Foundation Church and the Nimsgern Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements.