Barbara A. Hinrichs

1936 - 2023

Barbara A. Hinrichs, age 86, of Grand Haven passed away Tuesday, February 1, 2023, at Trinity Hospital from complications due to COVID-19 and post-polio syndrome.

She was born June 19, 1936, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Edward and Marie (Kozlik) Wronski. She met the love of her life, C. Bruce Hinrichs, at a friend's wedding and they were married on August 20, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan.

Barbara grew up in a large, extended Polish family with 22 first cousins. She was the valedictorian of her 1954 Detroit Mercy High School graduating class and earned a teaching degree in home economics from Mercy College. She taught in Detroit and Olivet before the birth of her first child. After her children were older, she had a second career of more than 25 years in banking, initially as a teller with Security First Bank & Trust, culminating as a team member with the Fifth Third Loan Department.

Barbara's Catholic faith was a foundation in her life, and she and Bruce were active at St. Francis De Sales Parish in Holland. She enjoyed travel with Bruce, and as a lover of Strauss waltzes, the highlight for her was their 25th anniversary trip to Vienna, Austria.

Barbara was a talented seamstress who designed and made her own wedding dress, and over the years made clothing and textile creations for her family and special occasions. She loved baking and was famous for her many Christmas cookie recipes and her often-requested cheesecake. She passed on her mother's tradition of harvesting and preserving fresh fruit and vegetables to her family.

Barbara took advantage of life on Lake Michigan by sharing her love of sailing with the family and ensuring that her children became strong swimmers. During beach bonfires, she taught everyone that evening's star constellations as well as traditional campfire songs. Barbara was a lifelong reader and advocate for literacy and education; she taught Catechism for many years at St. Patrick's Parish, was active in P.E.O. (an international women's organization providing educational opportunities for women), and after retirement she volunteered as a literacy coach at the Loutit District Library and participated in summer reading programs for migrant children through her church. In spite of her petite stature, Barbara had a strong and determined personality and work ethic, plus a marvelous sense of humor, all of which enabled her to survive polio at the age of 13 and conquer all her post-polio challenges. Her greatest joys were hosting family and friends at the family home on Lake Michigan, becoming a grandmother, and spending time reading and baking with her children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 63 years, Bruce, who died on December 29, 2022. She is survived by three children: Lisa Hinrichs-Hodgini, Kirsten (Jay) McKillop, and Brant (Miki) Hinrichs; and four grandchildren: Kyle and Sean McKillop, and Eads and Fenn Hinrichs; sister, Edwina Stewart; niece and nephew, Jen Stewart and Jeremy Stewart.

A joint memorial service for Barbara and Bruce will take place this summer. Interment will take place in the Grand Haven Township Historic Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Barbara may be given to P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund (P.E.O. Executive Office, Treasurer's Dept., 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312) or the Loutit District Library. Please sign the family's online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.