Submitted by: Dan Rich
Barbara J. Lema
Jan. 7, 1933 - April 9, 2000
Barbara J. "Sarge" Lema, 67, of West 6th Street, Mishawaka, Ind., passed away after a lengthy illness at 1:23 p.m. on Sunday, April 9, in St. Joseph Community Hospital, Mishawaka.
Barbara was born in Walkerton, Ind., on Jan. 7, 1933, to the late Brunz "Russell" and Martha "Molly" Marie (Fink) Geisler.
On June 17, 1950, Barbara married Triphon Lema, Jr., who survives. She is also survived by a daughter, Deborah "Deb" Lema of Mishawaka; a son, Triphon "Tim" Lema, III, of Mishawaka; six grandchildren, Samantha of Key West, Fla., Vanessa, Jennifer, Angela, Ashley and Triphon Lema, IV, all of Mishawaka; three great- grandchildren, Christopher, Javanta and Lavonia; two sisters, Myrtle Abbiehl and Ruth Lundry, both of South Bend; and two brothers, Herbert Geisler of Fairfield Bay, Ark., and Robert Geisler of South Bend; and by her father-in-law, Triphon Lema, Sr., of Mishawaka.
Barbara was a member of St. Bavo Catholic Church, Mishawaka. She belonged to the BK Club Auxiliary, the Women's Democratic Club, and was a volunteer for many years at Democratic headquarters.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today, April 12, and from 9 a.m. until time of services on Thursday in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 13, in St. Bavo Church, with Fr. James Shafer officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, as Barbara suffered for many years from pulmonary fibrosis.