VALERIE ATKINSON

Valerie Louise Atkinson, born February 4, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, to Thomas Harry McGuine and Freda (Ostermann) McGuine, passed away peacefully on February 21st at home after a two-year struggle with ALS. She was surrounded by her husband and children.
Valerie married David Joseph Atkinson on October 21, 1972, and together they built a home filled with love, creativity, and steady support for their children and grandchildren. Valerie was the loving and creative heart of our family.
She was a graduate of Minnetonka High School and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In addition to her many creative outlets, she worked for years at St. Paul’s Humboldt High School as a career counselor and yearbook advisor.
A lifelong artist, she produced an amazing array of paintings, creative writing, and calligraphic documents, with many being prominently displayed at several galleries and museums.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Harry and Freda McGuine (Ostermann), along with her brother, Terence (Terry). She is survived by her husband, David, and her children: Dylan, Holland (Lisa), and Adelle Barlow (Lou). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Aleksa and Elena Atkinson and Izetta Barlow, and by step-grandchildren Hannelore and Hendrix Barlow.
Her legacy will live on through her beloved children and grandchildren, and her memory will be preserved through her art.
A private service will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for immediate family at Lakeview Cemetery in Turtle Lake, WI. A larger Celebration of Life to be held on Saturday, May 9, at Skinner Funeral Home, 1245 1st Ave., Cumberland, WI. The Celebration service will be held at 11:00 a.m.