Barbara Irwin

Barbara Irwin

Barbara Jane Irwin, 64, of Rudyard, was a longtime teacher of home economics in Rudyard and a former owner of the Jack Pine Bar and Grill. She passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2007.

She was born in Columbus, Ohio, October 26, 1942, to Norman Harry and Betty Jane (nee Snyder) Bauermeister. She grew up in Columbus and attended Ohio State University.

The summer before graduation, she took a job on Mackinac Island at the Iroquois Hotel, where she met her future husband, Harold John "Jack" Irwin. They were married August 29, 1964, after she had earned her bachelor's degree.

Mr. and Mrs. Irwin lived for a short time in Seattle, Washington, and then moved to Fremont, where she worked in the test kitchens for Gerber Baby Foods, taught home economics, and had two daughters, while Mr. Irwin attended Ferris State University.

After Mr. Irwin completed his degree in 1970, the family moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she restored an old farmhouse and her husband worked for Xerox Publishing Division.

In 1978, they moved to Rudyard with their two daughters and bought the Jack Pine Bar and Grill, where they both worked for a few years, before her love of teaching drew her back to the field. She began teaching home economics at Rudyard in 1983 and retired in July 2007.

Mrs. Irwin was a member of Delta Zeta at Ohio State University and was also a member of the Eastern Stars in Columbus.

She attended St. James Episcopal Church of Sault Ste. Marie with her mother for years, and more recently became a member of the St. James Lutheran Church of Rudyard.

She enjoyed quilting and sewing, took pleasure in swimming and water aerobics, and was an adept baker and cook. She loved spending time with her family and friends, and was devoted to teaching and to her students.

She is survived by her husband, Jack; her daughters and their families, Jeanne and Brian Kernan of Dayton, Ohio, and Sheryl Pelto of Sault Ste, Marie; seven grandchildren, Sean, Aileen, Caroline, Marta, Jack, and Liam Kernan, and Jessica Pelto and Jessica's father, Michael Pelto; two aunts, Lee Bauermeister of Grove City, Ohio, and June File of Columbus; and a cousin and his family, Roger and Becki File of Columbus.

Mrs. Irwin was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Betty, and her sister, Joan Marie Bauermeister.

Services were held Friday, July 27, at 10 a.m. at the St. James Lutheran Church in Rudyard.

Visitation was held Thursday, July 26, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford.

Memorials may be directed to the Chippewa County Hospice of Sault Ste. Marie or the St. James Lutheran Church of Rudyard.