Amber F. Barsema, 105, of Resthave Home, Morrison, IL, died Monday, December 21, 2015, at the Home.
Amber was born October 21, 1910, in Morrison, to Abner R. and Clara Bell (Sherwood) Howe. She was educated in the rural Whiteside County Grade Schools and attended Morrison High School. Amber married Marcus Barsema on March 29, 1928, in Fulton, IL. He died March 18, 1963. She was employed by the Donichy Drug Store for 21 years. In 1963, she worked at General Electric in Morrison for 12 years, retiring in 1975. After retiring from GE, she worked at Quinn’s Jewelry and also at Morrison Golden Meals, Inc. as a cook assistant until 1990. Amber was a member of Morrison United Methodist Church for over 75 years and participated in the Women’s Circle. She was also active in Morrison Wa-Tan-Ye Club and several card clubs. In her early years, she enjoyed embroidering and quilting with her sisters. She enjoyed all kinds of card games, Bingo, and Dominos. She loved to travel and be with her family. She was a very kind-hearted person, very sociable, and always found something good in everyone. She was always volunteering and helping others.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Claribel “Clair” Sack of Morrison; five grandchildren, Craig Sack, Chris (Theresa) Sack, Curt Sack, Cliff (Teresa) Sack, and Sara Sack; 12 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marcus; five sisters, Lura Olson, Lula Port, Bessie Nelsen, Harriet Linker, and Elnora Engelkens; two brothers, Clarence and Charles Howe.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at Morrison United Methodist Church in Morrison, IL
OFFICIATING: Rev. Ryan Sutton, Pastor, Morrison United Methodist Church
VISITATION: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 23, 2015, until the time of the service, at the Morrison United Methodist Church
INTERMENT: Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, IL
The Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
MEMORIALS: Morrison United Methodist Church