Barbara Elaine Dewey

DEWEY, BARBARA ELAINE Barbara Elaine Dewey, age 88, peacefully slipped away on June 24, 2014. Barbara was born on May 6, 1926 in Kalamazoo, to Henry and Vivian VanDenBerg. She attended Washington Elementary, where she played piano with the Elementary Orchestra and knew a certain Robert Dewey. They met again at Kalamazoo Central High School, fell in love, married December 15, 1945 at First Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed over 68 years of life together. Barbara graduated from Western Michigan University College with a degree Elementary Education. She taught first grade in Ann Arbor and was a mentor teacher for the University of Michigan. She was an accomplished pianist and loved music all her life. She served in several capacities at the First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, primarily on the Communion Committee. She believed in the Boy Scouts of America and helped to form Cub Scout packs for the north side of Kalamazoo. Barbara was also the Publicity Director for the Southwest Michigan Council, for with she received the Silver Fawn Award for making outstanding contributions at the local council level. But her passion was being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She was best known for her innate depth of wisdom in counseling and supporting her family and friends. Barbara is preceded in death by her brother Max VanDenBerg and is survived by her husband Robert, and her four children James Marion Dewey of New Jersey, Janet Neil Grausam, David Karen Dewey, and Linda Tony Rackauckas all of California, her sister-in-law Joyce Passage, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a nephew and niece. Honoring Barbara's wishes, cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be at a later date. Memorials in Barbara's memory may be directed to Great Lakes Hospice, 900 Cooper Street, Jackson, MI 49202.