Barbara J. Gomber's Obituary
Barbara Jean Gomber was born February 28, 1942, and passed away quietly on November 26, 2023. Though she passed peacefully, it was not without a short but fierce battle with lung cancer and the post-surgery challenges. She fought hard to regain her independence that she had maintained well into her 81st year, but it was one of the few battles in life she didn’t win. In the end, she died like she lived…on her own terms.
The baby of 7 children to Francis Joseph and Laura Elizabeth (Maynard) Balsitis, “Bobby Jean” also and always held a special place in her heart for her Stepfather, Jacob Lokerse. Barb was raised in the prized family home at 2842 Eastern Avenue, until it was sold, after all the children were grown, to make room for the bustling 28 th Street business district.
Barb’s lively and busy siblings (and their spouses) have all preceded her, which include, Adeline “Sparky” (Jack Bravata), Francis (Barb, and Dorothy Balsitis), Rosemary (Harvey Johnson), Alma (Harry Huffman), Richard (Ann Balsitis), and Nina (Louis Jost). It was often said that Barb was the Irish Twin of her slightly older sister (by 12 months and 2 days), Nina.
They were quite inseparable comrades. Barb married the love of her life, Rheo Lane Gomber, on January 26, 1962. Rheo (Lane) was an independent business owner all his life. They raised 3 beautiful children (stepchildren to Barb, and loved like her own), Rickie (Leonard Little), Lane (Oscar, and his wife, Shania), and Penny (David) Koontz. Sadly, stepchildren, Rickie and Oscar, grandson, Keith, great-grandson, Ryan, preceded her in death, as did her beloved husband, Rheo, who passed away on November 27, 1999. Barb remained faithful to Rheo until her death.
Barb was committed to service and donated over 19 years to providing senior companion services over an expansive area for Mecosta County Commission On Aging (aka, EightCap). In addition to her deep commitment to senior client work, Barb was an avid animal lover. She loved her large German Shepards and many cats and was committed to animal rescue. Additional favorite pass times of Barb included playing cards, gardening, camping, fishing, knitting, painting ceramics, and creating yarn and needle crafted gifts. She was always well known in her family gatherings to dance a mean jitterbug with her sister, Nina, and a dice game of Left, Right, Center with Alma and Nina (lovingly known as The Twisted Sisters).
Barb is survived by and will forever be missed by her loving stepdaughter and her husband, Penny and David Koontz, her grandchildren, Adam, Joshua, Sarah, Lane Russell, Randy, and Greg, and her great grandchildren. She is also survived by and terribly missed by her many Balsitis family nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and her final kitty companion, Zoey.
A visitation and service will be held on Friday, December 1st, 2023, at Janowicz Family Funeral Home in Remus Michigan, with Pastor Randy Piatt officiating. Visitation Friday is from 11 - 1, with Funeral immediately following at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to Animal Rescue Coalition of Mecosta County, or Mecosta County Commission on Aging & Activity Center.
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