Barb
Barb Sweet
Barbara Sweet of Alamo Township passed away Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Kalamazoo. Barb was born June 10, 1914 in Kalamazoo to Harry and Cora Belle (Hart) Baird and was raised by her mother and step-father, Sidney Maple. She was a 1932 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo.
Barb was a devoted homemaker and in her leisure time enjoyed gardening, knitting and exercising, especially walking. She maintained a good sense of humor and always took a personal interest in every person she met. Barb lived independently until age 99 at which time she moved into assisted living at Park Village Pines. She received much love and care from the staff there. Her 100
th
birthday celebration with family and friends was a very special day for her. It was a happy celebration that she spoke about often.
Surviving are her daughter, Sue (Bill) Binning of Kalamazoo; four grandchildren, Brian (Susan) Binning, Jeff (Kate) Binning, Trent (Timberlie) Yanz and Deborah (Loli) Alharthi; eight great-grandchildren; a niece Carol Messner; and several cousins. In 1965 through an exchange program Janke Loenen Brans, from the Netherlands, has been like a daughter, and they have maintained a close contact since.
Barb was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Robert Sweet in 2001; her daughter, Joan Marie Yanz in 1987; and her sister, Charlotte Hoft.
Cremation has taken place and a private graveside service at Alamo Center Cemetery will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at 11:00 A.M., Chaplain Esther Sapp officiating.
Contributions in memory of Barb may be made to the Kalamazoo Area Christian Retirement Association, Inc. (Park Village Pines Resident Fund) or the Kalamazoo Humane Society.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Barb Sweet
Condolence Messages
Carol and Allyn Faith
November 17, 2014 at 9:56 pm
Sue, Bill and family we share in your loss.
Barb will always hold a special place in our hearts. She always had a warm loving smile to give. She was very interesting and always interested in others. Our world was blessed to have her for 100 years and she will always remain a very Special person to us.
Reply
Jackie and Don Wells
November 18, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you, Bill, Brian and Jeff as I know you all had such a close and loving relationship with Barb throughout your lives. May all these wonderful memories help ease the huge void that her passing will have on each of you. She lived a GRAND life and seem to enjoy every hour of it which is what made her just so special!
Reply
Kathi Fuss
November 18, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Thoughts and prayers are with you all! So glad I could go to Barb’s 100th party! She really seemed to enjoy it SO much! All the memories you have will help you through the rough days!!
Reply
Carol and Donald VerHage
November 18, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Dear Sue, Bill and family We rejoice with you in the wonderful life of your Mother, Sue. We are sorry for your pain and pray you will fill your life with wonderful memories. I remember well spending time with Joan at your home and your Mother was always so kind. I still have a little scottie dog broach that I made while visiting and she was very patient with us and our mess. our love to you. Carol and Donald
Reply
Arch & Sandy Woodstock
November 18, 2014 at 6:48 pm
What a wonderful, long life, cherish the memories. We will be praying for your family at this time of loss.
Reply
Mike and Ginny (Moyer) Summers
November 19, 2014 at 10:56 am
I’m so sorry for your loss. I have memories of your sweet Mom always treating me with kindness and understanding. Mike and I pray that the sorrow you feel in your heart is lightened by the love that surrounds you.
Reply
Sue Parsons(Wojciechowski)
November 19, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Sue, My condolences to you and your family. She sounds like she was an amazing woman. Sorry for your loss and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Janke Brans-Loenen
November 21, 2014 at 10:36 am
In 1964-1965 I started to be her Dutch daughter and stayed that way.
Barb was my American Mom. And such a chearful person.
Her laugh is still in my ears.
She knitted a blanket for me. I took it to the Netherlands.
Everytime when I washed it, I smelt Mom and sometimes at that moment I called her. She understood.
We enjoyed drinking her Marguerita’s at the porch.
Cookies and milk when Sue and I came home from High School.
Her sense of humor and twinkling green eyes will never leave my mind.
Sue has been the greatest daughter a mother ever can have.
Mom was surrounded by a lot of love.
Thanks for sharing your life with me Mom.
Reply
Nancy and Larry Wilson
November 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Sue, Bill and family. So sorry to hear about your mom but I remember your stories about her going to Texas and the wonderful things you did together. I would like to think that maybe she has met my mother by now and they are both watching over us.
Reply
Bert and Tom Narasky
November 21, 2014 at 6:33 pm
We are so very sorry for your loss. It’s hard to know the right words to say at a time like this. Time will ease away the hurt in your heart and be replaced with loving memories. Rest in peace Barb Sweet.
Sue and Bill, our thoughts are with you always. Lovingly, Bert and Tom
Reply
Scott and Dana Stone, and Daphne
November 21, 2014 at 6:54 pm
My brother and I grew up with Brian and Jeff, and Barb was like our third grandmother. I am a better person for having known her and have so many great memories of “Grandma” Sweet. Our thoughts, as always, are with the Sweet and Binning families. RIP Grandma
Reply
Susan (Jerrett) Sawasky
November 28, 2014 at 10:08 pm
Dear Sue and family,
I was so sorry to read about your mom! Wow, one hundred!
What a milestone! The memories you must have!!
Please accept my thoughts and prayers!!
Reply
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Barb was a devoted homemaker and in her leisure time enjoyed gardening, knitting and exercising, especially walking. She maintained a good sense of humor and always took a personal interest in every person she met. Barb lived independently until age 99 at which time she moved into assisted living at Park Village Pines. She received much love and care from the staff there. Her 100
th
birthday celebration with family and friends was a very special day for her. It was a happy celebration that she spoke about often.
Surviving are her daughter, Sue (Bill) Binning of Kalamazoo; four grandchildren, Brian (Susan) Binning, Jeff (Kate) Binning, Trent (Timberlie) Yanz and Deborah (Loli) Alharthi; eight great-grandchildren; a niece Carol Messner; and several cousins. In 1965 through an exchange program Janke Loenen Brans, from the Netherlands, has been like a daughter, and they have maintained a close contact since.
Barb was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Robert Sweet in 2001; her daughter, Joan Marie Yanz in 1987; and her sister, Charlotte Hoft.
Cremation has taken place and a private graveside service at Alamo Center Cemetery will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at 11:00 A.M., Chaplain Esther Sapp officiating.
Contributions in memory of Barb may be made to the Kalamazoo Area Christian Retirement Association, Inc. (Park Village Pines Resident Fund) or the Kalamazoo Humane Society.
Messages of condolence may be posted at www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Barb Sweet
Condolence Messages
Carol and Allyn Faith
November 17, 2014 at 9:56 pm
Sue, Bill and family we share in your loss.
Barb will always hold a special place in our hearts. She always had a warm loving smile to give. She was very interesting and always interested in others. Our world was blessed to have her for 100 years and she will always remain a very Special person to us.
Reply
Jackie and Don Wells
November 18, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you, Bill, Brian and Jeff as I know you all had such a close and loving relationship with Barb throughout your lives. May all these wonderful memories help ease the huge void that her passing will have on each of you. She lived a GRAND life and seem to enjoy every hour of it which is what made her just so special!
Reply
Kathi Fuss
November 18, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Thoughts and prayers are with you all! So glad I could go to Barb’s 100th party! She really seemed to enjoy it SO much! All the memories you have will help you through the rough days!!
Reply
Carol and Donald VerHage
November 18, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Dear Sue, Bill and family We rejoice with you in the wonderful life of your Mother, Sue. We are sorry for your pain and pray you will fill your life with wonderful memories. I remember well spending time with Joan at your home and your Mother was always so kind. I still have a little scottie dog broach that I made while visiting and she was very patient with us and our mess. our love to you. Carol and Donald
Reply
Arch & Sandy Woodstock
November 18, 2014 at 6:48 pm
What a wonderful, long life, cherish the memories. We will be praying for your family at this time of loss.
Reply
Mike and Ginny (Moyer) Summers
November 19, 2014 at 10:56 am
I’m so sorry for your loss. I have memories of your sweet Mom always treating me with kindness and understanding. Mike and I pray that the sorrow you feel in your heart is lightened by the love that surrounds you.
Reply
Sue Parsons(Wojciechowski)
November 19, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Sue, My condolences to you and your family. She sounds like she was an amazing woman. Sorry for your loss and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Reply
Janke Brans-Loenen
November 21, 2014 at 10:36 am
In 1964-1965 I started to be her Dutch daughter and stayed that way.
Barb was my American Mom. And such a chearful person.
Her laugh is still in my ears.
She knitted a blanket for me. I took it to the Netherlands.
Everytime when I washed it, I smelt Mom and sometimes at that moment I called her. She understood.
We enjoyed drinking her Marguerita’s at the porch.
Cookies and milk when Sue and I came home from High School.
Her sense of humor and twinkling green eyes will never leave my mind.
Sue has been the greatest daughter a mother ever can have.
Mom was surrounded by a lot of love.
Thanks for sharing your life with me Mom.
Reply
Nancy and Larry Wilson
November 21, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Sue, Bill and family. So sorry to hear about your mom but I remember your stories about her going to Texas and the wonderful things you did together. I would like to think that maybe she has met my mother by now and they are both watching over us.
Reply
Bert and Tom Narasky
November 21, 2014 at 6:33 pm
We are so very sorry for your loss. It’s hard to know the right words to say at a time like this. Time will ease away the hurt in your heart and be replaced with loving memories. Rest in peace Barb Sweet.
Sue and Bill, our thoughts are with you always. Lovingly, Bert and Tom
Reply
Scott and Dana Stone, and Daphne
November 21, 2014 at 6:54 pm
My brother and I grew up with Brian and Jeff, and Barb was like our third grandmother. I am a better person for having known her and have so many great memories of “Grandma” Sweet. Our thoughts, as always, are with the Sweet and Binning families. RIP Grandma
Reply
Susan (Jerrett) Sawasky
November 28, 2014 at 10:08 pm
Dear Sue and family,
I was so sorry to read about your mom! Wow, one hundred!
What a milestone! The memories you must have!!
Please accept my thoughts and prayers!!
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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