Barbara E. Grignon, age 84, of Keshena, passed away at her home on July 10, 2020. Barb was born on the Menominee Indian Reservation on September 14, 1935, to the late William P. Grignon and Blanche (McPherson) Grignon.  She was raised near Keshena Falls on the Menominee Indian Reservation and attended the St. Joseph's Indian mission school.  As a young adult, she was lured to Chicago by the federal government's voluntary relocation program, which deceptively promised Native Americans living on reservations a better life and better jobs working in the city as a way to assimilate them into the American mainstream.  Despite this ill-conceived federal policy, Barb never lost sight of who she was and where she came from.

Barb discovered that helping others was her true passion in life. She became an alcohol and other drug abuse counselor and helped champion various Indian causes in her spare time.  After permanently moving back to the reservation in 1981, she went on to become a social worker for Menominee County and a foster parent.  In 1988, she began working for the Menominee Tribe, first as the Probation and Parole Director and then as the Crime Victims Witness.  She closed out her last 21 years with the Tribe as an Indian Child Welfare Act social worker, helping to unify and strengthen Indian families.  Barb retired from the Tribe in 2013.  Among Barb's proudest achievements included her graduation from U.W. Green Bay in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Studies.  In her spare time, Barb enjoyed fishing, reading, watching her hummingbirds, spectating at the Menominee Nation and Oneida Nation annual powwows, and playing bingo and video keno.  She especially enjoyed her annual dinners with her former coworkers.

Barb is survived by her eight children, Robert "Bob" Samuelson, Barbara "Beaver" Grignon, David Samuelson, Robert "Bert" Samuelson, Keyo Samuelson, Jodi (Sam) Conigliaro, Jeremy Weso, and Rahji Weso; her grandchildren, Latoya, Pasquinell, Ramona, Tiera, Robert, Danielle, Hannah, Cassandra, Kevin, Kaylyn, Christopher, Tony, Victoria, Phylicia, and Monroe; several great grandchildren, including her little pal and trusted helper, Daeveon; and one great-great grandchild. She is further survived by her siblings, Judith (Gary) Elm, Roxy Grignon, Paula Grignon, Dale Weber, and Diane Grignon; several nieces and nephews, including Ishy and JR; her close cousin, Frieda Grignon; and her close friends, Jennifer Gauthier, Luanne Warrington, Debbie McPherson, Debra Martzke, Sharon Williams, Ruth Dodge, Darrel O'Katchicum, Rosie Gun, Bill Kussel, Birdie and John, and Pete and Lenore.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Marilyn Silas, Robert "Bobby" Grignon, William "John" Grignon, and Lillian Grignon; and by one special grandchild, Mindy.

In accordance with Barb's wishes, a private service will be held on Sunday, July 12, 2020. Burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery in Keshena, Wisconsin.