Barbara Jane Gruizinga, age 95, of Bear Lake, previously a longtime resident of Kalamazoo, Morris Plains, New Jersey, Hudson, New Hampshire and Traverse City, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday Feb. 16, 2022.

Barbara was born on Feb. 8, 1927, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of the late Lewis and Mildred (Van Houten) Bush. On Sept. 30, 1945, she married John Jacob Gruizinga at the United Methodist Church-Parchment in Kalamazoo and they shared 40 years together before John's passing on Feb. 13, 1986.

She was a homemaker until all her children were in school. She retired from International Paper Box Machine Company in Nashua, New Hampshire as a cost accounting clerk.

Barbara was a member of the United Methodist Church in Parchment, Morristown, New Jersey and Nashua, New Hampshire.

She was a den mother for Cub Scouts and scout leader for Brownies and Girl Scouts as her children grew up. She volunteered at Red Cross blood drives in Nashua, New Hampshire for many years. She loved to do yard work and spent many happy hours in her beautiful flower gardens. She was famous for her pies and large family dinners.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Audrey Merrill, of Portage; her children, Bonnie K. Baris, of Bear Lake, Patricia (Dan) Davidson, of Palm Coast, Florida, John R. Gruizinga, of Brethren and Mary A. Tebbenhoff, of Bear Lake; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

In addition to her parents; and her husband, John; she was preceded in death by a son, Bernard L. Gruizinga; sister, Dorothy Weed; brother, Alan Bush; son-in-law, Godefridus Tebbenhoff; and loving companion to son John, Jane Macomber.

Services for Barbara will be held at a later date in Kalamazoo.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.

Please feel free to share a memory or photo with the family at www.oakgrovefh.com.

The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.