Barbara Joan Kluthe

Barbara Joan Kluthe, 89, of Wyckoff, New Jersey, peacefully passed away at home on June 18th. Born in Paterson, NJ on May 6, 1935,
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Elinor Coe and Howard Lindemann, formerly of Hackettstown, NJ and Huntington, NY.
Barbara spent her formative years in Ridgewood, NJ, and later settled in Westbury, Long Island after graduating from Green Mountain College. Her career at Sperry Gyroscope Company in
Great Neck, NY provided cherished memories, including anecdotes of office-wide roller skating, as the office was so enormous!
One of Barbara's most pivotal moments was her marriage to Robert Charles Kluthe, whom she fondly referred to as the "most wonderful man in the world." They married on November 24, 1962,
at the Levittown Presbyterian Church in Levittown, NY. Initially residing in Massapequa, Barbara and Bob cherished their waterside home, indulging in sailing with friends. Barbara was also
an early member of the Long Island Ski Club. Later, following the birth of their daughter Laura and to be closer to Bob's parents in Midland Park, they relocated to Wyckoff in 1964. A year later, her
son, Douglas was born.
Barbara loved living in Wyckoff, where she immersed herself in community life alongside her husband at Grace United Methodist Church. Her contributions to the church spanned numerous roles,
from chairing events like the Antiques Show and Christmas Fair to being a member of the Nominations Committee and the Lay Leaders to nurturing the church Nursery School as Administrative
Director, which she did for fourteen memorable years.
Barbara's community involvement extended beyond the church; she devoted 68 years to her local PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Chapter AA of Wyckoff, following in the footsteps of her mother and mother-in-law, Helen Borne Lindemann. Over the years, Barbara served as chapter President ten times.
Barbara's kindness extended to neighbors, friends and local businesses through her love of gardening and floral arrangements, which she would often deliver to the delight of surprised recipients.
Barbara found joy in travel, throughout Europe and the United States in addition to the Holy Land in Israel. But her summers on Cape Cod with her family held a special place in her heart.
Barbara was renowned for her thoughtfulness and warmth; she left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Her loss leaves an enormous void in her family.
Barbara is survived by her beloved husband of sixty-one years, Bob; her daughter, Laura Iwanski, and son-in-law, Joseph of Tenafly, NJ; her son, Douglas of Los Angeles and Woodland Valley, NY; and her adoring grandchildren, Christina and Maximilian.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Barbara's life, which will be held at 11am on Friday June 28th at Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, NJ. A graveside service will follow at the George Washington Cemetery in Paramus, NJ.
Arrangements have been made through The Vander Plaat Funeral Home (www.VPFH.com), 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ.
Memorial Contributions may be made in Barbara's name to: Cottey College (which Barbara supported over the years) 1000 West Austin Blvd. Nevada, MO 64772. Make note on check of 'Institutional Advancement' in Barbara's name Parkinson's Foundation (Parkinson.org), 1359 Broadway, Ste 1509, NY, NY 10018.
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