Barbara J. "Barb" Kidd

News Death Notice

KIDD, Barbara J. (Peterson) "Barb" 61, of Twin Lake, Michigan died August 1, 2009 in her home surrounded by family and friends. Barbara was born to Carl and Lucille Peterson on October 21, 1947 in Superior, Wisconsin. Barbara grew up in the Catholic Church, and her faith molded her life, her actions, and her love for all. Barbara attended Superior Cathedral High School, graduating in 1965. Her caring nature called her to the field of nursing. She attended Saint Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wisconsin from 1965 to 1968, where she met her lifelong friend Ellen Ristow in their first year of nursing school. Barbara met her future husband, James Kidd, December 13th, 1968 (a Friday), in James' home town of La Crosse. She graduated as an RN with a nursing diploma in 1968 and set out with Ellen to practice nursing in Honolulu, Hawaii. She returned to the mainland and married Jim on June 26th, 1971. They made their first home in La Crosse as Jim finished his undergraduate degree. They moved to Appleton, Wisconsin for Jim to pursue his doctorate at The Institute of Paper Chemistry. Living in student housing and working evenings at a local intensive care nursery, Barb made many friends in her new home. She loved to be part of a community and even as her husband's career took her to Hamilton, Ohio, Decatur, Alabama, Asheville, North Carolina, West Chester, Ohio, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Seattle, Washington, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Eugene, Oregon, Charlotte, North Carolina, and finally, Twin Lake, Michigan, Barbara worked hard to meet people and build new friendships through work, church, and community service. Barbara's family and friends appreciated the letters, cards, and photographs she sent. She maintained friendships through her faithful correspondence even as her family moved from one place to the next and her address book continued to grow; Barb's friends learned to write her address in pencil. Barbara practiced nursing in each community she lived in, first caring for newborns in an intensive care nursery, then working as a labor and delivery nurse beginning in the early 1980s. In 2000 she became certified as a lactation consultant, helping many new mothers learn to breastfeed their newborns. Barbara loved her career as a nurse and found the work to be very fulfilling. She cared for or helped deliver thousands of infants in her career. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Lucille Peterson. She is survived by her husband James R. Kidd; her three children: Kristen (John Courtney) Donovan of Richmond, Virginia, Matthew Kidd of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Aaron Kidd, wanderer; three sisters: Cecelia Peterson of Cable, Wisconsin, Julie (David) Neely of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Carla Peterson of Cable, Wisconsin; four brothers: Timothy (Dia) Peterson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Robert (Carol) Peterson of Superior, Wisconsin, Bernard (Lee) Peterson of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and David (Carlene) Peterson of Alabaster, Alabama; best friend of forty-four years, Ellen Ristow; and countless friends, many cousins, nieces, nephews, her dog Gilbert, and other members of her extended family. The family would like to share our deepest gratitude for the extraordinary care Barbara received from the staff of Harbor Hospice. Their presence during Barbara's final days and hours brought her physical comfort, guided the family through the process, and facilitated a dignified and comfortable passing from this life. The funeral liturgy was celebrated on August 4, 2009 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in North Muskegon, MI with the Reverend Henry McDaid, a close personal friend, presiding. A gathering of friends and family was held at the church after the liturgy service. Memorials may be made in Barbara's name to the Sisters of Saint Joseph Charity Fund, c/o Sister Roseanne Cook, MD., 112 Bridgeport Road, Camden, Al 36726. A celebration of Barbara's life will be held in Superior, Wisconsin at a later date. Share memories with the family at their On-line Guest Book at www.sytsemafh.com. Arrangements by The Sytsema Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 737 Apple Ave. (231) 726-5210