Barbara L. Klimmer, 93, of Coldwater passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility with her children at her bedside.
A service will be held Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at Dutcher Funeral Home of Coldwater, officiated by her nephew, Donald Price.
A visitation will be held Monday, April 1, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home of Coldwater. Interment will take place following the service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Battle Creek.
Barbara was born November 18, 1930, in Battle Creek, MI to Leonard and Virginia (Anderson) Wilson. After graduating High School, she attended Owosso College for three years. Returning from college, Barbara worked at the Federal Center in Battle Creek in the marketing department.
Once she was married, Barbara and her husband, Jerry, owned and operated Jerry’s A & W Root Beer Stand in Coldwater for over 20 years. Barbara worked many nights past midnight side by side with her husband preparing their famous secret recipe hot dog chili sauce. She was always thrilled when people would stop her in a store or on the street to ask for the recipe many years after the stand had closed.
Barbara also worked at Federal Mogul in Coldwater and Ben Dajos’ Law Office. After moving to Battle Creek she worked at Visiting Nurse Services as an administrative secretary until she retired in 1997.
Barbara enjoyed music and singing. She loved to sing solos and in the church choir at the Family Altar Chapel. She was a member of the Coldwater Sweet Adelines for 15 years during which time she and her three best friends formed the barbershop quartet, The Debonnaires. Barbara was very proud of the fact the quartet were Semi-Finalists in the Sweet Adeline International Competition held in Hawaii in the late 60s.
Being an avid U of M football fan she loved attending home games at “The Big House” and watching from home. Barbara always loved spending time with family and friends, and special times spent on the deck with her best friend, Ted Short, watching the boats go by waiting for the sunsets. She spent every chance she could with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and especially loved the family get-togethers at Pete’s house.
Barbara is survived by her children Julie (Jedd) Bucklin of Bronson and Pete (Tina) Klimmer of Coldwater; her grandchildren Lindsey (Ben) Vainner, Tony Bucklin, Barbie (Joel) Budd, Taylor Klimmer, and Zachary Klimmer; her great grandchildren Ella Budd, Kellan Budd, Brecken Budd, McKenna Vainner and Max Vainner; her sister Pamela (Dick) Gerten of Marshall; many nieces and nephews; and her honorary granddaughter, Sarah Pohl.
Barbara was preceded in death by her former husband Gerald Klimmer; her daughter, Susan Fisher; her sisters; Theresa Dos Santos, Patricia Fahling and Helen Jeffery, and her longtime companion, Ted Short, Sr.
Memorials can be made to the Branch County Fair, where Barbara enjoyed spending many years watching her son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren show their animals and have the time of their lives.
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