Barbara Jean Keirns

Barbara Jean (Glenn) Keirns, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025. She will be remembered for her quiet strength, her sassy spirit, and the mischievous sparkle in her eye that often came with a knowing wink.
Barbara's passions were many-Elvis Presley, music, reading, casinos, jewelry shopping, and collecting dolls-all reflections of her vibrant personality and love for life's simple pleasures. More than a time or two, she was known to hide her little shopping exploits from her husband, but while she loved those little material things, she often was busy shopping for those she loved.
She was the devoted mother of Missy (Melissa) and Ken. She raised Missy to be strong, compassionate, and selfless. Missy was there until Barbara's last breath, caring for her mom as her mom had always cared for her. She raised Ken to be a sensitive, artistic, and passionate man. Barbara was Ken's biggest fan and one of the most important people in his life. Her kids are just one form of the legacy that was Barbara's love and joy for life.
As a grandmother, she poured her heart into caring for her grandchildren. She rarely missed a sporting event, cheering quietly but faithfully beside her husband, whose enthusiastic support always made her shake her head in sarcastic dismay. Throughout her life, Barbara taught the values of dependability, generosity, and love through action. Her youngest granddaughter, Taylor, reflected those lessons beautifully, caring for Barbara during the hardest months of her life and showing the same strength and compassion her grandmother had lived by. In Barb's later years, though words became difficult, her joy was unmistakable whenever her great-granddaughters or beloved grand-puppies entered the room. She would clap and hum and sing with a twinkle in her eye seeing Madelynn and Luna dance or show her their art, and smile or coo at every little pitter patter of feet from her grand-pups and kitties.
She shared a remarkable love story with her husband, Jim, whom she met quite by accident when they were each supposed to be meeting other people at a local bar. That unexpected encounter turned into a lifelong partnership, and they were married on September 2, 1961. Together, they built a life filled with quiet devotion and playful teasing. They were not ones for public displays of affection, but their love was evident in the way they cared for one another every day. Whether it was watching game shows side by side, traveling to casinos, taking trips to Mackinaw or Tennessee, or cheering on their favorite football teams, they found joy simply in being together. When Jim passed away in April 2023, she found comfort in staying close to her kids and granddaughters, cherishing the bond that she and Jim had helped create. Their love story, though imperfect, was long, loyal, and deeply rooted in care and companionship-a true example of enduring love.
Her family will forever carry her memory in their hearts, remembering her quiet grace, her humor, and the warmth she brought to every moment. Her children, Ken and Vonne (Hill) Keirns and Melissa (Keirns) Mackenzie, her grandchildren, Kyla Walworth, Taylor Mackenzie, Logan and Devan (Walworth) Dodge, and her great-grandchildren, Madelynn and Luna (Dodge) will continue to share in her legacy of love and never forget the special woman she truly was.
A very special thanks to those that assisted in her care during the last months of her life. Haley Smieska, Joanne Martin, and the crew at Arbor Hospice. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara, please visit our floral store.