CASSOPOLIS — Barbara Jean Hartke, 79, of Cassopolis, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010, at Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis.

She was born June 17, 1931 in Henderson, Ky., to Johnny and Waxie (Mays) Ward.

She married Leonard R. Hartke Sr. on Aug. 22, 1981, in Dowagiac.

She was preceded in death by: one son, Lloyd “Butch” Merrill; one brother, Gordon Ward; and two granddaughters, Jamie and Deloris.

Barbara was a homemaker who previously worked for Jessup Door Co. in Dowagiac.

She was a member of the College of Regents of the Women of the Moose, Dowagiac.

Barbara is survived by: her husband, Leonard R. Hartke Sr. of Cassopolis; two daughters, Jacqueline Smith and Janice Clark, both of Cassopolis; three sons, John Merrill of Australia, Leonard Hartke Jr. of Gun Barrel City, Texas, and David (Yolanda) Hartke of Dallas, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Joyce Ward of Henderson, Texas.

Family and friends gathered Sunday, Oct. 31, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Sumnerville.

The family prefers memorial contributions be made to the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 933, 54867 M-51 North, Dowagiac, MI 49047.

Online condolences may be sent care of connellychapel@frontier.com.