Oct. 15, 1944 — March 25, 2016

Barbara E. Garrelts, 71, of Dowagiac, passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Michiana Church of Christ, 504 E. Prairie Ronde, Dowagiac with Pastor Justin Shepard officiating. Burial will follow at Mission Hills Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the family c/o Arnold Garrelts for the purchas of her head stone. Those wishing to sign Barbara’s Memory Book online may do so at www.clarkch.com.

Barbara was born on Oct. 15, 1944, in Dowagiac to DeWitt L. and Lena B (Edmunds) Deuel. On Feb. 23, 1963, she married Arnold “Spud” Garrelts in Dowagiac at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Barbara was loved by everyone, including her dogs and her grand-dogs. Barbara’s family was the most important part of her life. Her children and grandchildren knew that she was their biggest fan. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Barbara is survived by her loving husband “Spud”; two daughters, Christina (Kevin) Moore of Merrillville, Indiana and Anita (Tarran) Burns of Dowagiac; two sons, Arnold “Steven” (Kimberly) Garrelts, III of Dowagiac and Kevin (Cecilia) Garrelts of Dowagiac; five grandchildren, Angela, Stacey, Tyler, Austin and Zachary; one great-grandson Easton; sisters, Margaret Wilson, Joyce Short and Judy Rohlfs; brothers, Jerry Deuel and Phillip Deuel and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Russell Deuel, Leona “Faye” Bement, Doris VanDyken, Thelma Davis, Paul Deuel, Dwayne Deuel, Floyd Deuel and Lloyd Deuel.