Barbara Hansknecht

Barbara Ann Hansknecht loved with a pure and selfless love. She had a passion to serve others and she freely gave of her time and talents. With her boundless energy, she sacrificially blessed all those who had the pleasure of meeting her.

The 1940's were most remembered for World War II which was fought from 1939 through 1945. The war caused the rationing of food, clothes and even toys. The upside to all of it was that the war production pulled America up out of the Great Depression. That was exciting enough, then there was the birth of Charles and Helen (Schultz) Tarbell's precious daughter Barbara Ann, who was born on September 14, 1940. Barbara had an older brother, Chuck and the two of them grew up in the family home on the west side of Grand Rapids. Their father, Charles provided for the family by working as a funeral director at the Alt Mortuary.

Being a kid was a busy job for Barbara. She loved being involved in extra curricular activities, and her favorite was ballet dancing. She was a student at Sibley School and she then went on to Union High School where she graduated in 1958. Barbara knew how to have a good time. As a teenager, she and her friend Donna would often look forward to the weekends when they would head over to Ramona Park, an amusement park on the east side of the city. Barbara and her friends would have a great time, relaxing and meeting new people. In high school, she met Clifford Fults. They became highschool sweethearts and married in 1959. It was a bittersweet time for Barbara because earlier that year, they lost her brother Chuck in a boating accident.

Barbara and Clifford settled into their home on Muskegon Street before welcoming their first child, Kenneth into their arms. In 1961, just a few months before their second child, Stephen was born, Clifford was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Barbara leaned on her parents for support during that difficult time in her life. She moved in with them and found work at West Side Savings and Loan. Kenneth and Stephen created many wonderful childhood memories at their grandparent's five bedroom home. Once and awhile, Barbara would get out of the house with friends and go out to the Speedrome in Grand Rapids. One night, she met a man named James Hansknecht. Jim and Barbara shared many of the same interests and they got to know each other in no time. They fell in love and married in 1964. Soon, they added two more children to the family, Karen in 1965 and Matt in 1969.

Jim was a military man and his work took the family to Tennessee and Grosse Isle. After finishing his active duty with the Navy Reserves, the family was happy to move back to Grand Rapids where they settled temporarily back at Barbara's parent's house. Soon they found a home on Jennette St. N.W. Barbara loved being a mom and wife. She was devoted to caring for their needs and spending time getting to know them. She was a wonderful seamstress and loved making clothes for the family over the years, especially for Karen. Sometimes, needles would get lost and later found in someone's foot. It was a small price to pay for her clothing creations. She would also pick her own fruits and vegetables each year and can them all herself because she felt it was best for the family. Her most popular canned item was her homemade raspberry jam. Barbara felt canning was so important that the last time she canned she had her children come to the house and help so that they would know how to do it themselves.

Once the kids were in school, Barbara found seasonal work to earn extra money for the holidays. One year she won $600.00 at BINGO and hid it so she would have it for Christmas gifts. She hid it so well, she thought someone took it, but a few months later she found it stashed in a bookcase. Later on, when the kids were older, she was hired at a bank in the customer relations department. It was a great job and Barbara loved the interaction with the customers. In 2000, she retired from banking and enjoyed the time she had to spend with her kids and grandkids.

Family time was very important. Every year they would pack up and head out to Yankee Springs or another camp ground where they would park their camper and enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors. They traveled out west, east to New York and north to Mackinaw Island too. Twice, Barbara had the pleasure to enjoy the tropical island of Hawaii.

Barbara and Jim spent 41 wonderful years as husband and wife. When they married, Barbara converted to the Catholic Church. It was a turning point in her life and she was thrilled to be an active part of the church. Serving others came naturally to Barbara, so much so that she and Jim often spent their time working at the Ronald McDonald House and at God's Kitchen. They also owned J&B Antiques. It was a perfect fit because Barbara would find the furniture pieces and Jim would refinish them. Eventually, their need to spend time with their grandkids overpowered the fun of owning a business and they retired. James was a great golfer and to spend more time with him, Barbara did her best to enjoy the sport. Eventually, she decided golf was something for only Jim and his buddies. Instead, they spent time together going to the races and traveling to Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula.

In 1989, they moved into a condo on the north side of the city. They changed their membership from St. Anthony Parish to St. Jude and again became active in the church. Barbara even became a Eucharist Minister. She knew how important it was to show support to hurting people. She was often attending funerals of people she knew, because she understood the effects of those painful times. When her son and daughter-in-law were having a new baby, she drove all the way to Atlanta. She felt strongly the need to show support to them during that time in their lives. Being there for others was what she did best, but being there for her family always came first.

Two years ago, Barbara was diagnosed with lung cancer and just after that, Jim was also diagnosed with cancer. Jim passed away in January 2006 after a painful battle. Barbara left this earth on Monday, April 24, 2006. She will be dearly missed and her memories will live on in the hearts of those she blessed.

Mrs. Barbara Ann (Tarbell) Hansknecht, aged 65, of Grand Rapids passed peacefully from this earth to her heavenly home on April 24, 2006 after a 2 year valiant battle with lung cancer. Preceding her in death were her parents, Charles and Helen Tarbell, her brother Chuck Tarbell, her first husband Clifford M. Fults, her dear husband, of 41 years, Jim Hansknecht, father-in-law Leo Hansknecht, her sister-in-law Pamela Hansknecht as well as first in-laws Harry and Loretta Fults. She is survived by her children: Kenneth (Robin) Fults, Stephen (Terri) Fults, Karen (Steven) Roersma and Matthew (Lisa) Hansknecht. Also surviving are her grandchildren Sarah Fults, Scott Fults, Jon ( Erin ) Fults, Kristi Fults, Becky Fults, Annika Roersma, Rachel Roersma and Peter Hansknecht, Joy Hansknecht, her mother-in-law Wanda Hansknecht, her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law John (Renae) Hansknecht and Michael Hansknecht, her nieces Rechelle and Tonya, her lifelong friend Donna Zimmerman and longtime friend Margene Stoutjesdyk. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 A.M at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1120 4 Mile Rd. N.E. with Rev. Mike Danner as celebrant. Visitation will be held Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. N.W. and at St. Jude Church Friday from 10 A.M until the time of the funeral mass. The Rosary will be recited at the funeral home Thursday evening at 6:30 P.M. Please consider memorials to God's Kitchen. Visit www.lifestorynet.com to read Barbara's life story, leave a memory or sign the online register book.