Barbara Elaine Danner

Barbara Elaine Danner, 88, of Indianapolis, passed away on January 22, 2025. She was born on January 15, 1937, in Indianapolis, to the late Elcana and Helen Davis.

Barbara graduated from Fairview High School in Dayton, OH in 1955, and subsequently graduated from the University of Dayton with her bachelor’s degree. Barbara went on to graduate from Michigan State University with her master’s degree in marketing as the only woman in her business school class that year.

Barbara was a courageous and adventurous woman, winning a Town and Country fishing competition in Stuart, Florida, by catching a 9-foot sailfish at the age of 15, drag racing her Lincoln in her hometown of Dayton, and pursuing her master’s at a major university after discovering a love for the business world while working in her father’s grocery stores as a young woman.

She met and married Edward Wladyka at MSU, where he attained his PhD in Food Science before becoming a Research Scientist at Pillsbury Foods in Minneapolis, MN. Barbara had 4 children, Gary, Derrik, Janalee, and Bryan, before moving her family to Lake Minnetonka where she lost Edward to cancer.

After several years, she married Max Danner, and moved her family to Indianapolis, which she called home for many decades. She was the self-appointed guardian of her lovely, historic Meridian-Kessler home for 40+ years before splitting her time between Indiana and Florida.

She was active in supporting Castleton United Methodist Church as a life-long member, as well as the Indianapolis 500 Festival, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indianapolis Indians, the Indianapolis Repertory Theater, St. Maragaret’s Guild, and many other Indianapolis organizations in various capacities and roles.

Barbara was a tireless supporter of homeless animals, taking in dozens of homeless and/or injured cats and dogs during her lifetime. She also enjoyed gardening and pursued her hobby to receive her Master Gardener’s certificate from Purdue. Her love of travel took her on incredible journeys all over the world, including to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, China, Africa, and dozens of countries across Europe.

Barbara is survived by her children, Gary (Cindy) Ladyka, Derrik (Joanna) Danner, Janalee (Gary) Caldwell, and Bryan Danner (Jenny Powers), her grandchildren Edward Danner, Andrew (Shannon) Danner, Taryn Ladyka, Megan (J.D.) Wells, Grace (Ryan) Knight, Jackson Gallagher, and great-grandchildren Joseph and Charlotte Danner, Dominic Ladyka, Nora Knight, Grace and Luca Wells.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, from 9 am to 10 am, with a Funeral Service to follow at 10 am, at Flanner Buchanan – Broad Ripple, 1305 Broad Ripple Avenue. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Barbara’s memory to Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) via Friends of Indy Animals, at https://friendsofindyanimals.org/donate/.