Barbara Klecz

Kight

Barbara Klecz Kight

April 27, 1943 – November 9, 2026

Barbara Klecz Kight, 83, of Holland, Michigan, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, November 9, 2026, with her family by her side. Her passing leaves an immeasurable void in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Yet her family rejoices that she is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and reunited with her beloved husband, Jack, whom she joined in Heaven almost exactly ten years after he went before her.

Barbara Ann was born on April 27, 1943, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to Nick and Anita Klecz. Her father served a career in the U.S. Army. She grew up in Bound Brook, New Jersey, alongside her older brother, Nicholas. At just 20 years old, while working at Union Carbide in New Jersey, she married a young man named Jack, who would become the love of her life. They were married on August 10, 1963, and together built a beautiful life of 53 years centered on faith, family, friendship, and love.

Barbara and Jack made their home in Greenville, South Carolina, from 1969 to 1989, where they raised their two children, Jeff and Suzanne, and worshiped at Shannon Forest Presbyterian Church and later Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church. They then spent ten years in La Porte, Indiana, before returning to their beloved Greenville for retirement. Alongside her calling as a homemaker, Barbara put her keen mind to work in business, owning several small businesses and working in business administration and job placement.

Throughout their marriage, Barbara and Jack cherished summers at their lake house on Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, near where Jack had grown up. In retirement they divided their years between Greenville and the lake. Those summers became a treasured part of the family's story. Barbara proudly hosted family reunions there, gathering generations of Jack's family around her table, and filled the house with memories that will be carried forward for generations.

Barbara expressed her love most naturally through food. She explored the cuisines of the world from her own kitchen, and her family will forever treasure her chocolate cream pies, homemade noodle soups, and homemade pizzas. To be fed by Barbara was to be loved by her.

Following Jack's passing in 2016, Barbara moved to Holland, Michigan, where she spent eight wonderful years living with Suzanne, Paul, and her grandchildren Jack and Natalie, while still returning to Deep Creek Lake. Those years brought countless shared meals, laughter, long conversations, and the simple joys of everyday life together. After a stroke in 2025, Barbara moved into assisted living, where she continued to be surrounded by kindness and care. She suffered a second, devastating stroke on November 5, 2026, and went home to be with the Lord four days later.

Barbara had a wonderful gift for bringing joy to the people around her. Vivacious, warm, gracious, outgoing, and genuinely interested in others, she made people feel welcomed, valued, and loved. Her quick wit and delightful sense of humor made her a joy to be around. She loved life, and she had a special way of making it a little brighter for everyone fortunate enough to know her.

She also had a generous heart and a desire to serve. For many years, Barbara was active in her church and in the Order of the Eastern Star in Greenville and La Porte, supporting their spiritual, charitable, and philanthropic missions. In La Porte, she was also a member of P.E.O., an organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating women through education and friendship.

Above all, Barbara loved Jesus. Her Christian faith was the foundation of her life, and she sought to instill that same love for the Lord in her children. She knew that one of the greatest gifts she could give her family was the example of a life rooted in faith, kindness, compassion, and generosity. She lived those values not only through her words, but through the way she treated others and cared for the people God placed in her life.

Barbara's greatest earthly treasure was her family. She was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother, and a loving grandmother and great-grandmother who took immense joy in each of their lives. She gave freely of her time, her affection, and her encouragement, and she leaves a legacy of love that will continue through the generations.

Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack Kight; her parents, Nick and Anita Klecz; and her brother, Nicholas Klecz Jr.

She is survived by her son, Jeff (Ellen) Kight, and their five sons, Daniel, Andrew, Jonathan, Nathan, and David; and her daughter, Suzanne (Paul) Rutherford, and their children, Jack and Natalie. She also leaves behind a lifetime of cherished friendships and countless memories shared with those who loved her.

Those who knew Barbara will remember her beautiful spirit, her warmth, her laughter, and the unmistakable sparkle she brought to life. Though her family will miss her more than words can express, they are profoundly grateful for the years they shared, the love she gave so generously, and the example she set. Two hymns she loved, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Rock of Ages," speak the hope they hold most dear: Barbara is home in Heaven, reunited with Jack and resting in the arms of her Savior.

Her sparkle will be missed, her love will never be forgotten, and her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who loved her.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Maryland.

To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Barbara's online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006.