Obituary of Barbra Jean Schulte

    Barbra Jean “Barb” Schulte was born on March 23, 1945, in Sanborn, Iowa, one of three children of Gilbert and Bertha (Hofman) Meernik. She spent her youth in Sanborn, receiving her early education at the Sanborn Christian School before going on to Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa.

    On Friday, August 26, 1977, Barb was united in marriage to John F. Schulte at the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn.

    While Barb’s main focus was making sure their home ran smoothly, she did attend classes and receive her certification as a Nurse’s Aid, working at the nursing home in Sibley, Iowa for a short time. She also helped John with his Raleigh Home Products retail sales business, offering a line of greeting cards, dinner napkins, and quality Raleigh products through venues such as local county fairs. Meeting new faces and conversing with people was one of Barb’s great strengths. She was blessed with a very social personality and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone – whether she knew them personally or had just met them. She was always ready for a game of cards and conversation or content to just sit and get lost in a good book. Crocheting was another relaxing pastime for her; many beautiful projects were shared or gifted to friends and relatives over the years. She and John were a members of the First Baptist Church in George, Iowa.

    On Friday, January 26, 2024, Barb passed from this life at the age of 78 years. She is once again reunited with her husband, John; her parents, Gilbert and Bertha Meernik; her parents-in-law, Herman and Jennie Schulte; brother-in law, James Ruddy; and sister-in-law, Jan Schulte.

    Keeping her memory close in heart are her siblings and their spouses: Sandra and her husband, Buryl Mellema of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and John Meernik of Phoenix, Arizona; brothers and sisters-in-law and spouses: Lena Ruddy, Joan and her husband, Henry Boneschans, and Michael and his wife, Diane Schulte all of Sibley, Iowa, and Ardale Schulte of Kingston, Georgia; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.