Barbara J. Brubaker

Barbara Jane (Ratermann) Brubaker was suddenly called home to eternal life on Thursday, October 13th, 2022, at the age of 86. A beloved daughter, sister, and devoted mother of four, she was born May 5, 1936, and was a life-long resident of Sidney, Ohio. She was a parishioner of Holy Angels Catholic Church, an organist there in her teenage years, and attended both Holy Angels grade and high schools, graduating in 1954. The youngest child of Joseph A. and Gladys Ensey (Blake) Ratermann, Barb was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Betty Roeckner, her brother John Ratermann, and brother-in-law Bill Custenborder.

Barb is survived by her daughter Sharon Kinsella, Sidney, and grandchildren Benjamen, Brandi, and James (Cheryl) Brandewie and Michael (Erika) Creager; her daughter Pamela (Perry) Hovanic, Livermore, CA, and grandchildren Nicholas (Danielle Haskin) Hovanic, Nora- Kate (Kurt) Wiewel and Raelan (AJ Mendoza) Hovanic; her son Michael (Donna) Brubaker, Columbus, Ohio, and grandson Cole Brubaker; and her daughter Kathleen (Dean Sherman) Middleton, Sidney, and granddaughters Kristi (Curt) Spangler, Stacy (Scott) Smith, and Danielle Middleton; her 20 great-grandchildren, ranging newborn to 28 years old; sister Catherine (Kate) Custenborder, brother-in-law Bob Roeckner, sister-in-law Kathryn (Kathy) Ratermann, and several nieces and nephews.

Barb began a career with United Telephone as a telephone operator and at retirement was an integral part of the Sprint/Embarq engineering department. It was said she knew the names and locations of all the roads in the county! Throughout the years she was never without a faithful canine companion by her side be it Prince, Jessie, or Maggie. She was always walking, crocheting, gardening, working on home projects, and applying herself by solving crossword puzzles, cryptograms, and sudoku. Barb was ahead of her time in computer literacy, always self-taught, and enjoyed showing those around her the latest technology. She was a voracious reader (mystery/thriller), and an avid arm-chair sports fan of the Reds, Bengals, Notre Dame, and all things tennis. In addition to being a regular attendee of her grandchildren's school and sporting activities, she participated in the Holy Angels funeral choir and volunteered at Dorothy Love, playing piano for Catholic hours. One of her children's fondest memories includes gathering around singing show tunes and holidays songs as their mother played away on the piano.

Barbara is and will remain an inspiration to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for always living her Catholic faith. She will be forever remembered as the matriarch and pillar of strength to her family. 

Friends may call at Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home in Sidney on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 9:00-10:00 AM. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 10:30 AM at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Fr. Aaron Hess. Inurnment will follow at Graceland Cemetery, Sidney, Ohio. Online condolences may be left for the Brubaker family at www.salm-mcgillandtangemanfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lehman Catholic Education Foundation or have a mass said for Barbara. Salm-McGill and Tangeman Funeral Home is honored to be taking care of the Brubaker family.

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