Barbara L Stricker, age 58, of Traverse City, passed away on Feb 2, 2020. Barb is now in the place of peace with our mom who passed away last November.
Barb was born in Traverse City on Aug 16, 1961 to William (Bing) and Janet Stricker. She grew up with her siblings on Long Lake and attended Traverse City Junior High and Senior High schools. She earned her associate degree from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City and than a bachelor's in finance and accounting from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant.
Barb lived in South Bend, IN, right out of college and then in Columbus, OH, where she worked as a comptroller auditing banks in the areas. Then she moved to Grand Rapids, working at Old Kent Bank, which later became Fifth Third Bank and also at FMB Bank that later became Huntington Bank. She worked in compliance, fraud, and was even as a vice president for a while.
Barb moved back to Traverse City, working at NMCAA (Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency) helping families with their finances and budgeting.
Her mom moved in with her and the two took care of each other for their remaining years.
Barb loved to travel. Her first major trip was visiting several European countries with her college friends before starting her career. She rode camels in Australia, taught students English in Spain and Ukraine, saw Big Ben in England and vacationed in Mexico and Canada. Several US states were destinations as well, including Connecticut to visit our mom's side of the family.
We also want to thank special friends and neighbors, Dick and Sue Bonzelet and Paul and Sharon Martin, who took such great care of our mom for many years and then Barb as her health declined. They were there for anything that was needed, plus more. Also, a special thank you goes to our cousins, Sally Walter and Penny Stricker, for helping whenever needed and giving great moral support during the past year.
Barb was preceded in death by both her parents, William (Bing) Stricker and Janet (Storms) Stricker.
She is survived by her three siblings, Donna (Henry) Vietzke, of Gladstone, Susan (Eric) Holt of Grand Rapids, and Jim (Brenda) Stricker, of Cedar. Many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, in both Michigan and Connecticut, and her lifelong best friend, Terri Campbell, also survive her.
There will not be a funeral service due to Barb's wishes. We will have a private family gathering at a later date.
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
