Barbara Jean Gow

Barbara Jean Gow, 75, formerly of Coloma and St. Joseph, passed away peacefully in Kalamazoo on Sunday, July 30, following a long illness. The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday, August 4, at Kerley-Starks and Menchinger Funeral Home, St. Joseph. At her request, cremation and private family services have taken place. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Those wishing to sign the guestbook on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Barb was born January 23, 1931, in Benton Harbor, to Louise Brenkert Johnson and Earl Polmanteer. She was a graduate of Benton Harbor High School and Western Michigan University with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. On August 4, 1956, she married Ronald Gow, who preceded her in death in 1993. She is survived by her daughter, son-in-law and grandsons, Tami, Todd, Mike and Steve Romkema, of St. Joseph.