Barbara Ann (Granstra) Rosevear

Barbara, 81, of Petoskey, Michigan left this earth and transcended into heaven on Monday April 22, 2024, following a two-decade battle with Parkinson’s, a disease she fought with grace and dignity especially in her final 15 months at Bay Bluffs Nursing Facility in Harbor Springs.

Barbara was born on July 3, 1942, to the late Frank and Sophie (Grochoski) Granstra in Ada, Michigan. She attended Holy Childhood School in Harbor Springs and graduated from Harbor Springs High School in 1960. She was a graduate of North Central Michigan College.

Barbara taught elementary school on a certificate in Harbor Springs, Petoskey St. Francis, and St. Charles in her early adult years. Although familiar with each other from a distance during high school and college days it was when her future husband, Jerry, was home on leave from the Army one summer they had a chance meeting while with a group of friends. Asked what drew his attention to her Jerry laughingly always said “her great legs.” That meeting led to a September 10, 1966, wedding at Holy Childhood Church in Harbor Springs and a 57-year honeymoon, including the arrival of three children over 11 years. Jerry always referred to Barbara as the guts and glue of their family.

Barbara eventually returned to work in the Petoskey Public School system and served as administrative assistant throughout the Petoskey School District, including the Superintendent, Petoskey Middle School, Ottawa Elementary School, and for the last approximately 20 years at Central Elementary School before retiring in December of 2005 after 31 years. She was a long-time parishioner of Petoskey St. Francis Xavier Church.

During summers and after retirement Barbara enjoyed working at Cutler’s in Petoskey and spending time with Jerry a couple months each winter in Florida as well as going to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Besides the love for her family, Barbara was well known in Petoskey as well as Florida for her shopping skills. Her husband often referred to her as a “shop-a-holic” and it took a special friend to keep up with her.

Barbara’s greatest joy through the years was her children and seven grandchildren, all of whom brought her tremendous pride in their individual accomplishments. She was a giver in every sense and reluctant when it came to taking. She loved to cook and was a master at it. She loved to make “new creations” and spring them on her husband. When her children came home from college, she would have one of their favorite dishes, lasagna, waiting for them.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Jerry; sons Scott Rosevear (Courtney Burns) of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania and Ryan Rosevear (Katie Sayers) of Royal Oak, MI; daughter Kerri (Craig) Daniel of Petoskey, MI; grandchildren Samuel Rosevear of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Grace Rosevear of Bethlehem, PA, Katrina (Peter) Crittenden of Petoskey, MI, Trevor Daniel (Katy Menosky) of Berkley, MI, Aubree Daniel of Petoskey, MI, and Kyan and Annalise Rosevear of Royal Oak, MI; and brothers Walter Granstra (Mary Lowery) of Villa Rica, Georgia and Ron (Beverly) Granstra of Hayes, Virginia. She would have welcomed her first great grandchild in early June.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Sophie (Grochoski) Granstra, brother Frank Granstra, Jr., and sister-in-law Valerie Granstra.

Cremation has taken place and a visitation with a casual memorial gathering at Stone Funeral Home will be held Friday April 26, 2024, beginning at 6 PM. A private burial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey, MI.

Her family asks that for those wishing to honor and remember Barbara’s memory please donate to the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation at 30400 Telegraph Road Bingham Farms, MI 48025 or by going online at www.parkinsonsmi.org. The family would like to thank Bay Bluffs Nursing Facility in Harbor Springs for their loving care and also the resident friends she enjoyed living with.

Barbara’s obituary was written by her husband, long-time sportswriter/sports editor at the Petoskey News Review who retired in December of 2005, a week before his wife. Together they had a long and fun filled ride through life.

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