Martha Margaret Hesse Barchfeld passed away quietly at midnight, August 29, 2020, at her daughter's home in Wisconsin, surrounded by the knowledge of the love of her family. She had just celebrated her 88 ^th birthday.

Born August 10, 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA, she was the youngest of four daughters of Konrad and Hedwig Hesse. Raised and educated in the city, she worked as a bookkeeper upon graduation from high school. The following year, she fell in love with a dashing J. P. (Skip) Barchfeld, whom she married on November 24, 1951. They had three children, a daughter and two sons. In 1965, the family moved to Cheshire, CT, and lived there until 1981, when facing an empty nest, the couple decided to move to Coconut Creek, FL. There, Martha opened her own small fashion boutique, appropriately named Martha's. In 1984, they made the move to their final home in D'Hanis, TX, building their dream house on a 40 acre ranch, Just-Martha's Ranch. They lived there together until Skip passed away in 2016. Martha remained in Texas until January 2020, when she relocated to Wisconsin to be closer to family.

Martha was devoted to her family, and despite the distances between them, managed to see all of them quite often. She was a faithful member of Holy Cross Church in D'Hanis, TX. Always a people person, she was sure to become a lifelong friend within 10 minutes of meeting you. She was caring, generous and always helping someone out with friendship, conversation, hot cooked meals, being a chauffeur for her "older friends" or anything else someone might need. She also was in charge of the hospital gift shop for over 20 years at Medina Community Hospital.

Martha was predeceased by her loving husband of 65 years, Justin P. (Skip) Barchfeld, her three sisters Hedwig Vaugh of Butler, PA; Mary Meredith of D'Hanis; and Irmgard Mockus of Miami, FL and their husbands.

She is survived by her daughter Martha (Marti) Faignant and her husband Brian of Hortonville, WI; son Justin P. (Skip) Barchfeld, Jr. and his wife Ruth of Barrington, IL; and son Col. Conrad C. (Rock) Barchfeld, USAF Ret. of Louisville, KY. Also, five grandchildren, J. Brian (Jay) Faignant, Jr and his wife, Caryn, Anchorage AK; Martha Nicole (Nikki) Gamble and her husband Richard, McFarland WI; MaryAnne Schwellinger and her husband, Jason, Wauwatosa WI; Jennie Bourke and her husband Christopher, Palatine IL; and Justin P. Barchfeld III and his wife Becca, Hoffman Estates, IL. Further, eight great-grandchildren who were the twinkling lights of her life: Greta Faignant, Isaac and Simon Gamble, Scarlett Schwellinger, Abigail and Benjamin Bourke, and Caroline and Justin P. Barchfeld IV. She had many nieces and nephews, all of whom considered her their second mother, and many, many lifelong friends from the East to the West Coast and most places in between. She will be greatly missed by all.

The funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church, D'Hanis TX on Saturday, September  5, at  10:00 a.m. Viewing will be at the church beginning at 9:00 am. Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holy Cross Church building fund or St Jude's Children's Hospital.

The family would like to thank all of the staff of Compassus Hospice of Green Bay, WI for the care and support they provided during Martha's illness.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory that no one can steal. We will always love and miss you, Mom."