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In Memory

Barbara Buckles (Kersten) - Class Of 1946 VIEW PROFILE

Barbara Buckles (Kersten)

Barbara "Babs" Kersten

Mishawaka - Barbara "Babs" E. Kersten, 94, of South Bend, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at Tanglewood Trace Assisted Living, Mishawaka, Indiana.

She was born July 16, 1927, in Toronto, Canada, as the daughter of William & Maude (Hughes) Buckles. Her family moved to South Bend when Babs was seven years old. She graduated from John Adams H.S. and later attended I.U.S.B. taking courses in early childhood development.

Babs married Marion "Bud" Hartman. Bud passed away in October 1987. While attending Widow & Widowers' Support Group she met Donald T. Kersten. Don and Babs married in June of 1994. Don passed away in November 2017.

Babs is survived by one daughter, Karen Schwenk of South Bend; one son, Jim Hartman of Las Vegas, Nevada, stepsons, Glenn (Nancy) Kersten and Mark (Marlene) Kersten of Illinois, stepdaughters, Carol (James) Christiansen and Sue (Robert) Collier of South Bend, Indiana; fifteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by two stepsons, David and James P. Hartman, sister, Dorothy Carson; two brothers, William and Kenneth Buckles; and first husband, Marion "Gene" Worsham.

Babs was employed at Robertson's Department Store. She later worked as an assistant preschool teacher at River Park Methodist Church. She retired in 1988 after twelve years of service. Babs volunteered at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. She was also a former member of Parents Without Partners.

The family wishes to thank the staff and nurses at Tanglewood Trace and a special thank you to Heart to Heart Hospice for their wonderful care.

Private inurnment will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola, Indiana. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. at Palmer Funeral Home – River Park Chapel, 2528 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN 46615. The family will receive friends one hour before the Celebration of Life. Palmer Funeral Home – River Park Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Posted online on August 27, 2021

 

8/29/2021 EJS



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