Barbara Lee (Allwardt) Priebe, 83, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, March 11, 2022 at Sunset Home Assisted Living in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd, St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family on Friday, March 18, 2022 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to The Chapel, 4250 Washington Ave., St. Joseph, MI 49085. Those wishing to sign Barbara’s Memory Book may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Barbara Lee Allwardt was born at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, MI on May 12, 1938 to Fred and Liberty Allwardt. Barb graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1956, and married Richard E. Priebe on November 25, 1955, while she was finishing up her senior year.
Barb was a wife, mother, and homemaker residing in St. Joseph and raised a family of 2 children; Greg born in 1957 and Pam born in 1959. She worked at Heath Co. (St. Joseph), beginning in 1961. She then worked at Pleasure (Pools) Industries as an Administrative Assistant for 18 years, and at Mono-Ceramics (Benton Harbor) for 18 years.
Barb and Rich retired to an acreage and vineyard in Lincoln Township, where they raised grapes, fruit and vegetables which provided Barb with ingredients for great meals and delicious pies enjoyed by friends and family. She also volunteered in the Courtyard Café at Lakeland Medical Center for several years in the mid 2010’s.
Barb volunteered all her life in the churches she attended. She was a charter member of Napier Parkview Baptist Church in Fairplain and worked in the Pioneer Girls Program, Nursery Program, and also taught Sunday School. She has been a member of The Chapel in St. Joseph for the past 18 years.
Barb spent the final 17 months on this earth living in Bonners Ferry, Idaho where her daughter Pam lives. For the past 14 months, she was the member of a wonderful assisted living community called Sunset Home, only a five minute drive from Pam’s house. The staff and other community members there loved mom’s smile, dry humor and constant optimism. They all have commented on how much they will miss her.
Barbara is survived by her son Gregory (Paula) Priebe of Norfolk, NE; and daughter Pamela Shelton of Bonner’s Ferry, ID. Barb has 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sibling’s in-law, Sieg Priebe of Baroda, George (Linda) Priebe of Georgia and Roger (Karen) Priebe of Stevensville.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Fred & Liberty Allwardt; husband, Richard Priebe (2019); sister, Charlotte “Sue” (Duane) Michler; in-laws, Dorothy (Jean) Lake, Rosie (William) Nimtz and Miraim (Weiss) Priebe; son-in-law, Dennis Shelton; grandson, Benjamin Shelton, and great-grand-daughter, Ava McIntosh.
Service Details
Posted On: Friday, March 18, 2022 2:52 PM
