Barbara L. Kersten

KERSTEN, Barbara L.
Portage Passed away Friday, August 19, 2011. She was born August 30, 1927 in Otsego, MI a daughter of Dennis and Helen Guidebeck House and was a lifelong resident of Portage. Barbara loved to read, cook, spend time with her family and attend functions at the Portage Senior Center. On September 20, 1945, Barbara married Paul Kersten, who survives. Most of early years were spent as a stay at home mom, raising and caring for their four daughters. After the girls were grown, she worked for the Portage Public Schools in the kitchen area. Barbara is also survived by their daughters, Carol Larry Satchfield of Kalamazoo, Kay Bill Lauritsen of Mattawan, Julie Dr. Jeffrey Sykes of Sioux City, IA and Debbie Steven Christenson of Clawson, MI; 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Shirley Ferguson. The family will receive friends at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave., on Monday, beginning at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM, with Hospice Chaplain Theda McBryde, officiating. Interment will take place at Ft. Custer National Cemetery at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.