Elaine Ann Barley

Elaine Ann Barley (nee Sachtleben), of Thompsonville, MI, passed away peacefully at home on May 30, 2024, after a long battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family. Elaine was born to Edwin and Gwen (Seaman) Sachtleben on January 17, 1936, in Traverse City, MI. She attended Stricker School for primary education and Traverse City High School for her secondary education, which was the only high school at that time. She then went on to earn her LPN degree in nursing school. In 1960 she married Bob, the love of her life, whom she had met when she was only 8 years old. She spent 50 years as a nurse, delivering and caring for many, many babies and their moms. In fact, during COVID, she wished she could go back to work and help at the hospital. She loved to garden, bake, knit and sew. She served as a Cub Scout leader and a 4H leader for over 30 years and taught many life skills to the youth she was in contact with. Elaine was a lifetime member of and volunteer at the Northwestern Michigan Fair. She also baked Grand Champion Cherry pies that she entered at the Fair. Elaine and her Mother Gwen ran the Evelyn Heim Building at the fair for many years. Everyone loved her molasses cookies, even though she didn’t think they were anything special. She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church for 30 years and has cooked and baked for lots of potlucks and cookie walks. After retiring, Elaine’s passion continued to be her family and her farm that she shared with her loving husband Bob. She and Bob spent 18 years running Redeemer’s food pantry. You would often find her explaining how to cook some type of fresh produce that came into the pantry that day. She loved nothing more than helping people. During the summer, when she wasn’t at the pantry, you would usually find her in her garden, orchard or raspberry patch. She would often say that she just spent “all day out standing on her head in the garden”. She loved canning all the goodness from her garden and shared that knowledge with many people. Sleepovers at grandma’s were very special to her and she loved having hot dog roasts over the campfire. During winter months, when she couldn’t be outside she would knit, sew, make cookies or other incredible baked goods. If you ever tasted one of Elaine’s cookies or raspberry pies, you experienced a miniscule extension of her love. Elaine is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Robert Barley. Her children Michael Barley (Christine), Melissa Barley, Melinda Smith (Bob) and Mark Barley and her brother, Philip Sachtleben (Gloria). She is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Elaine and Bob were both proud of their children's accomplishments including, their education, military service and their continued faith and love for their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin & Gwen Sachtleben, brother Gary, sister Patricia, and granddaughter Heather Barley. Her tenacity, spirit for life and hard work were lessons learned by her children and grandchildren. She was our “Oak that never wilted”, and will be missed. Elaine was dearly loved by her family, “but she knew that”. Visitation will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Interlochen at 10am on Saturday, June 8th with funeral services to follow at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Redeemer Interlochen Food Pantry. http://redeemerofinterlochen.com/ Kindly share thoughts and memories with her family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

Elaine Ann Barley

January 17, 1936 - May 30, 2024