Obituary of Barbara Lee Esch

Barbara Lee Esch, our strong and loving mother and grandmother, passed away Monday, December 10, 2018, at Spectrum Health Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was 77 years old. 

Barbara was born February 11, 1941, in Mt. Pleasant, MI, the daughter of Leland and Alberta (Thatcher) Darling. She married the love of her life, Lynn Don Esch, on June 20, 1959, and together the two grew their family to include four children. Barbara worked for Wolverine World Wide for over 30 years before retiring in August of 2003. She was a huge NASCAR fan with Dale Earnhardt Jr. being her favorite driver. She also enjoyed cheering on the Detroit Tigers, going to the casino, and mowing her lawn on her zero turn lawnmower. She loved her pets dearly, but family was always most important to her. 

Her caring ways will be greatly missed by her children, Victoria Esch of Mecosta, Ricky (Sue) Esch of Henderson, NV, Michelle (Roger) Wernette of Remus, and Melinda (Charles) Baumann of Remus; one brother, Francis Darling of Hayward, CA; one sister, Peggy Hayward of Hamilton, IN; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lynn Don Esch, and siblings, Donald Darling, Richard Darling, Jack Darling, Velma Mullikin, Betty White, Donna Grace, Ruth Jones, and Letha Wolfe. 

Per Barbara’s wishes, cremation will take place with no service to follow.