1 Upcoming Event
Service
FEB
28
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Starts at 11:00 am
St. Gabriels Catholic Church
8295 Van Aiken Street, Ida, MI 48140
Barbara Danch Lark
July 3, 1932 - January 23, 2026
Barbara Danch Lark passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 23, 2026. She was born July 3, 1932, in Phoenix, Arizona. At five years old she moved with her family to Gary, Indiana, where she later graduated as Salutatorian from Froebel High School.
Barbara was the second of six daughters born to Julius and Gizella Danch, and she was the last surviving of her sisters — Trudy, Evelyn, Leona, Fran, and Geraldine — each of whom she loved dearly. Growing up in a home full of sisters shaped her warm humor, resilience, and devotion to family.
Determined, bright, and eager to create a life of purpose, Barbara enlisted in the United States Air Force with the dream of becoming an English teacher. During her service , after basic training at Lakeland Air Force Base in San Antoinio, Texas, she was stationed in Cheyanne, Wyoming, Iceland, and Washington, D.C., and proudly became a member of the first Women's Air Force Band as a clarinetist. It was in Washington, D.C., that she met the love of her life, Lawrence A. Lark, whom she married in 1954. They shared 67 years of devotion, laughter, and partnership until his passing in 2021.
After leaving the USAF, Barbara worked to support Lawrence through dental school, and together they began the remarkable journey of raising their seven children. Culture, education, and curiosity were pillars of their home; Barbara and Lawrence made it a priority to expose their children to the arts and sciences, nurturing a lifelong appreciation for learning.
The Ida home was Barbara's domain. As the titular headquarters of the greater Lark family, she would organize holiday gatherings for extended family and guests, attendance often reaching over 40 people. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were the norm for these events where Barbara would prepare elaborate meals of Chicken Paprikas, Kielbasa, lobster legs, honey baked ham, with salads and many side dishes. Her organization skills were exquisite in that the night before the event the serving dishes were laid out and tagged with the name of the delicacy which would occupy that dish. Barbara was an incredible cook. It is estimated that Barbara prepared over fifty-six thousand bagged school lunches for her children, each marked with the child's name in beautiful cursive handwriting. Barbara also offered her skills as an accomplished seamstress creating Halloween costumes, curtains, and specialty clothing items. Each of Barbaras children were gifted a crocheted Afghan for commemorating each high school graduation, not to mention the many high school term papers she edited and typed for each child.
Once their children were grown, Barbara managed Lawrence's dental practice with grace, competence, and a quiet strength—always preferring to support from behind the scenes rather than seek the spotlight herself. She was the steady force behind him in every way.
Barbara also brought her signature care, attention to detail, and hospitality to her years with the North Cape Yacht Club. Whether preparing for busy race days or ensuring the sailboat was generously stocked with only the best food for the crew, she made everyone around her feel cared for. She proudly served as Race Committee Chairman for the Lake Erie Race, contributing her leadership to the sailing community.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence A. Lark and son, Christopher (Phyllis) Lark
She leaves behind a large and loving family:
Her children — Jeffery (Donna) Lark, Matthew (Brigid) Lark, , John (Claudia) Lark, Thomas (Deanne) Lark, Joseph Lark, (Emily Petrangelo), and Jeanne Lark Baer.
Grandchildren — Adam, Caitlin, Ariel, Elise, Meredith, Lauren, Miles, Jack, Hannah, Madeline, Alexis, Quincee and Joey.
Great grandchildren — Sagan, Aria, Maddie, Emma, Leo, and Solomon.
Barbara will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family, her quiet strength, her service to her country, and the love she poured into every phase of her life. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched.
A funeral mass will take place at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Ida, MI on February 28 at 11:00 am. Donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity or Gleaners Food Bank www.gcfb.org
July 3, 1932 - January 23, 2026
Barbara Danch Lark passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 23, 2026. She was born July 3, 1932, in Phoenix, Arizona. At five years old she moved with her family to Gary, Indiana, where she later graduated as Salutatorian from Froebel High School.
Barbara was the second of six daughters born to Julius and Gizella Danch, and she was the last surviving of her sisters — Trudy, Evelyn, Leona, Fran, and Geraldine — each of whom she loved dearly. Growing up in a home full of sisters shaped her warm humor, resilience, and devotion to family.
Determined, bright, and eager to create a life of purpose, Barbara enlisted in the United States Air Force with the dream of becoming an English teacher. During her service , after basic training at Lakeland Air Force Base in San Antoinio, Texas, she was stationed in Cheyanne, Wyoming, Iceland, and Washington, D.C., and proudly became a member of the first Women's Air Force Band as a clarinetist. It was in Washington, D.C., that she met the love of her life, Lawrence A. Lark, whom she married in 1954. They shared 67 years of devotion, laughter, and partnership until his passing in 2021.
After leaving the USAF, Barbara worked to support Lawrence through dental school, and together they began the remarkable journey of raising their seven children. Culture, education, and curiosity were pillars of their home; Barbara and Lawrence made it a priority to expose their children to the arts and sciences, nurturing a lifelong appreciation for learning.
The Ida home was Barbara's domain. As the titular headquarters of the greater Lark family, she would organize holiday gatherings for extended family and guests, attendance often reaching over 40 people. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were the norm for these events where Barbara would prepare elaborate meals of Chicken Paprikas, Kielbasa, lobster legs, honey baked ham, with salads and many side dishes. Her organization skills were exquisite in that the night before the event the serving dishes were laid out and tagged with the name of the delicacy which would occupy that dish. Barbara was an incredible cook. It is estimated that Barbara prepared over fifty-six thousand bagged school lunches for her children, each marked with the child's name in beautiful cursive handwriting. Barbara also offered her skills as an accomplished seamstress creating Halloween costumes, curtains, and specialty clothing items. Each of Barbaras children were gifted a crocheted Afghan for commemorating each high school graduation, not to mention the many high school term papers she edited and typed for each child.
Once their children were grown, Barbara managed Lawrence's dental practice with grace, competence, and a quiet strength—always preferring to support from behind the scenes rather than seek the spotlight herself. She was the steady force behind him in every way.
Barbara also brought her signature care, attention to detail, and hospitality to her years with the North Cape Yacht Club. Whether preparing for busy race days or ensuring the sailboat was generously stocked with only the best food for the crew, she made everyone around her feel cared for. She proudly served as Race Committee Chairman for the Lake Erie Race, contributing her leadership to the sailing community.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence A. Lark and son, Christopher (Phyllis) Lark
She leaves behind a large and loving family:
Her children — Jeffery (Donna) Lark, Matthew (Brigid) Lark, , John (Claudia) Lark, Thomas (Deanne) Lark, Joseph Lark, (Emily Petrangelo), and Jeanne Lark Baer.
Grandchildren — Adam, Caitlin, Ariel, Elise, Meredith, Lauren, Miles, Jack, Hannah, Madeline, Alexis, Quincee and Joey.
Great grandchildren — Sagan, Aria, Maddie, Emma, Leo, and Solomon.
Barbara will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family, her quiet strength, her service to her country, and the love she poured into every phase of her life. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched.
A funeral mass will take place at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Ida, MI on February 28 at 11:00 am. Donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity or Gleaners Food Bank www.gcfb.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Danch Lark, please visit our flower store.
Consider a donation, as requested by the family.
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