Barbara J. Morren

Barbara J. Morren (Grube) passed away at the age of 93 in Kalamazoo, Michigan on November 20, 2024. She was born on March 27, 1931 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Donald and Gertrude Grube who preceded her in death. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1949 and went on to attend Western Michigan University. 

Barb’s life swept her to many places and jobs working for banks, construction companies and even running her own typing service before computers came into existence typing papers for college students which made her extremely resilient.

Barb is preceded by the death of her husband, Willis Morren, Jr, her grandson, Alexander Benson, and her sisters Evelyn (Bob) Boven (Grube) and Sharon Grube. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Benson and grandchildren Zachary, Sara and Elizabeth and by her son Don (Teresa) Hunt and grandchildren Ryan, Bill, Halli and Jack as well as several great grandchildren.

From a daughter’s perspective, she brought me into this world, my mother, she loved me unlike any other, put my broken pieces together more than once, always pushing me back out there to learn to stand on my own two feet. 

She delighted in her eight beloved grandchildren, making her home on Eagle Lake their home as well, for "grandma time" and that was the place where rules ceased to exist (except for the throw your wet towel over the patio railing to dry rule) and endless swimming, fishing, ice cream and staying up late for sleepovers which became as much a part of her as it did all of us.

We return her to the Heavens, where her dreams, memories and all of the love she held within her have merged together in a perfect Heaven that belongs to her now. I imagine that it looks like a reflection of her home on Eagle Lake where the sun is always rising and rules cease to exist. She could not conceive of the loss of her grandson, Alex on this earth and that is probably a blessing, but the Heavens belong to them both now, a place where the sun is always rising.

The family will hold a celebration of life at a future date to be announced and in lieu of flowers we ask that you share kindness and hope with someone who needs it.