TRAVERSE CITY - Mildred Lucille (Barber) VanSipe, 85, of Traverse City, passed away on Oct. 30, 2016. Mildred was born on May 2, 1931 in Lincoln, MI., to her parents the late Wallace and Margaret (Nicholson) Barber. She graduated from Alpena High School in 1949 and attended nursing school in Traverse City.
Mildred married Ronald Lee VanSipe, on June7, 1952 in Alpena and the couple had four children together.
Mildred loved the Lord and reading her bible and teaching Sunday school classes, quilting, bird watching, walking in the woods with her husband Ron, gardening, traveling and camping. She especially loved Chinese buffets and lunches at the Salvation Army with her friends Gaylord and Linda.
She is survived by her children, Vicki (Alan) Heikkila; sons, Jeffery VanSipe, Brian VanSipe, Tom (Debby Regiani) VanSipe; grandchildren, Ben VanSipe, Sarah VanSipe, Madison VanSipe, Ron VanSipe and Naomi VanSipe; sisters, Florence (Chuck) Slater, Grace (Bill) LaRouche, Marian (Harold) Olthouse.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Ronald VanSipe (Dec. 1988), sisters, Evelyn (Gordon) Gibbs, Margaret (John) Patzer, June Barber; brothers, Richard (Ruth) Barber, Stanley (Rose) Barber, Howard (Dolly) Barber, David Barber.
A visitation will be held for family and friends on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the New Hope Community Church in Williamsburg. A memorial service will take place at the church on Friday, Nov. 4, at 11 a.m. with a visitation held one hour prior. Pastor Tim Manzer will be the officiant.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to New Hope Community Church "Kids Zone" 5100 Bethesda Court, Williamsburg, MI. 49690.
The family gratefully thanks the caregivers at the Cottages at the Pavilions with Jane Cavender, Commission on Aging Volunteers, Meals on Wheels Volunteers, and her nurses and doctors at Munson Medical Center.
The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.