Barbara Ann Lemcool

Barbara Ann (Carmien) Lemcool, 75, of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away with her loving family at her side on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Munson Medical Center. Barbara was born on February 22, 1948 to the late Keith & Jean (Ballard) Carmien. Herbert W. Lemcool Jr & Barbara Ann Lemcool married on October 22, 1983 at St. Phillips Episcopalian Church in Beulah, Michigan. They shared nearly 40 years of blissful, adventurous marriage that was the envy of all who knew & witnessed their love for each other.

Barb was dedicated to her work and often talked about her days as a waitress at the Top of the Park Place Hotel when she went to Michigan State. Early in her 20 year career as a Legal Secretary, she helped start the family law clinic, coordinated the Legal Secretary Council in Traverse City, was President of the Legal Secretaries Association, and was once Executive Secretary of the Year. As 9/11 was unfolding in real time you would find Barb at the Park Place Hotel organizing the United Way Day of Caring. With the support of community partners, Barb was instrumental in beginning the Youth Friends initiative.

Barb's accomplishments and accolades include: Co-Founder of Helplink, an organization developed to help people navigate Human Service Systems; Coordinator for the Grand Traverse Community Collaborative, which brought all the non-profits together; Interim Executive Director of United Way where she started the Volunteer Center for greater Grand Traverse area and developed Afghan angels, where people would pick up yarn, make an afghan; drop them off for those in poverty and nursing home residents and veterans.

Barb was a huge supporter of the National Cherry Festival serving as president in 2001 & Director of the Junior Royale Parade for eight years. Words cannot describe the impact that Barb has left on the community through her long career of public service and advocacy work creating a multigenerational level of engagement with the community year after year.

Her involvement with the United Way led her and her husband to be instrumental in bringing 211 to the area. When the Cherry Festival needed sustainable funding, Barb created the Cherry Festival Foundation to ensure the festival would continue for years to come.

In the last two decades Barbs' focus was on poverty reduction. She was one of the founders of the Poverty Reduction Initiative in Northwest Michigan. She partnered with Dr. Donna Beegle from Portland, Oregon and together they would travel to communities all across the United States changing lives. Much of their work involved creating systemic change.

Barb was generous with her time, talent, and treasure. Within her winter home community, where most would go to retire from working, she continued to extend her coordinating efforts by spearheading the ladies Tea Party.

Aside from her never-ending list of community engagements, fun was just as important to her. Barb would often be found with her friends playing Mahjong, Settlers of Catan, and cards. Barb was always the one to bring new games to gatherings of family and friends which gave life to laughter, stories, and never-ending memories.

Despite her impressive resume and innumerable talents, you were more likely to hear Barb talk about her family. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she was never known to pass up the opportunity to gather with her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents Keith & Jean Carmien; Herbert Sr. & Josephine Lemcool; Sister Lynn Carmien; Brother-in law Kenneth Lemcool;

She is survived by her loving, devoted, husband Herbert William Lemcool Jr. her loving children; Kenneth M. Lemcool, Ronald Lemcool, (Cindy); David Lemcool, Scott Lemcool, (Jo); Sheryl Hooker (Chris), Keith Giddis.

Siblings: Rebecca Carmien; Andria Carmien; Judy Goodrich (Donald); Thomas Lemcool (Heather) Barbara Coulter (Theodore).

Grand Kids: Benjamin Lemcool; Steven Lemcool; Kelly Roy; Nicholas Lemcool; Kerry Lemcool; Alisha Meteer (Zach); Taya Reese (Hunter); Victoria Simes (Nate); Stephanie Hooker; James Hooker; Max Giddis; Alayna Anderson; Reagan Giddis; Kirt Jackson Giddis; Belinda Lemcool granddaughter in-law.

Great Grandchildren: Tristen Lemcool; Dominick Lemcool; Mya Lemcool, Brooklyn Lemcool, Steven Lemcool II, Tiffani Long, Rosalie Roy; AJ Lemcool; Annabelle Lemcool; Ellison Lemcool; Ivy Meteer, Koda Meteer, NiKlaus Reece, Naomi Simes. They are all part of the cool kids investment club.

It's also important to note each of the precious children listed above were loved by Barbara more than words can say. They were the joy of her very being. You probably witnessed her crocheting yet another quilt for her long list of deeply cherished children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. When you talk to her grandchildren, you will most likely hear stories of fond memories of Grandma Camp; Craft Day often referred to by her children as 'Crap Day'. It will come as no surprise to anyone to hear there are a long list of children not listed who have come to know her as Grandma. She has a special place in her heart for everyone who once knew her as Grandma.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 from 4-7pm with a Rosary and Sharing Time held at 4pm at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11am on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Traverse City, Michigan with a visitation beginning at 10am at the church.

In lieu of Flowers Monetary donations can go to the Cherry Festival Foundation or Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation. Kindly share thoughts and memories with her family at www.Reynolds-Jonkhoff.com .