Barbara "Babs" Sutherland's Obituary
Barbara, age 81, passed away peacefully at home in Muskegon on June 12, 2005. She was born in Muskegon on June 8, 1924 to Leonard and Irene (Westerlund) Lindback. Babs attended Muskegon Public Schools and was a member of the Class of 1943. She married Edward Sutherland on June 26, 1948. Babs loved children and will be remembered by many as a pre-school teacher at the YWCA “Kinder Kamp” and as the “Sucker Lady” handing our Dum Dum suckers at the Lakeside Memorial Day parades. Her greatest joy was hearing the laughter of her family. Babs was a proud homemaker who loved reading, domestic travel, holidays with her family and was happiest at home in her kitchen. She was extremely proud of her Swedish heritage and of being raised in “Pinchtown” and Lakeside areas of Muskegon. Babs was a long-time member of the Linne #57 Viking Lodge. SURVIVING are her husband, Edward; children, Christine (Arnold) Van Dyk of Shelbyville, MI, Ann (Dan) Morgan of Muskegon, John Sutherland of Muskegon, Barbara (Tom) Gudelsky of Grand Haven, MI; 7 grandchildren, Sara (Langoni) DeKoninck, Elizabeth (Morgan) Johnson, Molly and Andrea Morgan, Justin, Nicholas, and Liza Gudelsky, and one great-granddaughter, Audrey DeKoninck. Babs is also survived by brothers, James (Elaine) Lindback and Charles (Gloria) Lindback, both of Muskegon; sisters, Peggy Wesley of Columbus, GA and Nancy (Gary) Blamer of Kalamazoo, MI, and her 14 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Lou Ann, and nephew, Mark Blamer. A memorial service for Barbara will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday at Samuel Lutheran Church, with Pastor Lewis H. Glick officiating. There will be no visitation. Share memories with the family at their On-line Guest Book at www.sytsemafh.com. Memorials: Hospice of Muskegon/Oceana, or the Viking Scholarship Fund. Arrangements by The Walburn Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc., 1547 W. Sherman Blvd.,(231) 759-8565.
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