Barbara Ruth Hoogerwerf's Obituary
Barbara Ruth Hoogerwerf, age 96, of Marine City, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022. Barbara was born March 31, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late John and Pearl Northwood.
Barbara graduated from Mackenzie High School in 1944. Early on, she worked for the Ford Motor Company and U.S. Rubber. Barbara was known to many in the St. Clair County area as the “Fuller Brush Lady”. She also worked for a number of years in the CAN-AM Duty-Free shop at the Marine City Ferry Boat Dock.
Barbara was a member of the Marine City Civic Women’s Club for 45 years. She held various positions, including president. Barbara played a key role in establishing the Civic Women’s Club Park in downtown Marine City.
Barbara was an active member at First United Methodist Church in St. Clair, where she helped coordinate the Sunday greeters. Barbara also loved playing piano and shared her talent with a small church in Pt. Huron.
Barbara’s greatest passion was health and the study of nutrition. She was a member of the National Health Association and was published in Health Science magazine in 2015. Barbara felt that a plant-based diet helped her live to the age of 96.
Barbara especially loved her family. Her children and grandchildren brought her much happiness. She also enjoyed the St. Clair River, watching the boats and freighters pass by her home.
Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bill, of 68 years, and her brother John Northwood. She is survived by her children, Laura Gray (Larry McHaney), Cindy (John) Steffy, and John (Jane) Hoogerwerf; grandchildren, Michael Mapes-Pearson, Chelsea (Sylvester) Ramos, Josh Steffy, Ellen, Sarah, and Annie Hoogerwerf.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, January 5, at 1:00 p.m. at Young Funeral Home, China Twp. Visitation will be from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. before the service. Urn interment will be in Chatham, Ontario, Canada at a later date.
Memorials can be made to Blue Water Hospice or First United Methodist Church, St. Clair, MI. To leave a message of comfort, visit www.youngcolonial.com
What’s your fondest memory of Barbara?
What’s a lesson you learned from Barbara?
Share a story where Barbara's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Barbara you’ll never forget.
How did Barbara make you smile?