Ilene M. Barger, age 59, of Stanton, died Thursday, June 14, 2012, at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids.
Ilene was born October 26, 1952 in Mason, the daughter of Norman William and Kathleen Ann (Chase) Stewart. She married Robert Lewis Barger on November 6, 1971, in Stanton.
Ilene was very industrious from an early age, starting to milk cows at age ten and always had a job after that. Through the years she worked at Ore Ida, K-Mart, ElectroLux, and the BP on County Seat corner. She was also very artistic, creative and crafty, and enjoyed wood working and wood carving. She could take nothing and make something out of it. This creativity led to her buying a floral shop in Stanton, and for 24 years she owned and operated Rustic Floral, where she thoroughly enjoying people as they would come into her shop to purchase flowers for special occasions or some of the many other items she had to sell. She also enjoyed camping with Bob and going out on lakes in the bass boat. She loved animals and kids, and was a favorite aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Ilene is survived by her husband, Bob, of Crystal; her mother, Kathleen Stewart, of Stanton; her brothers and sisters, Marlene (Clif) Fockler of Riverdale, Rick (Linda) Stewart of Stanton, Ronda (Randy) Sherwood of Ionia, Shannon (Alan) Buskirk of Stanton, and Roger (Darlene) Stewart of Stanton; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Norman Stewart; and her brother, Randy Stewart.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, at the Barden Funeral Home in Stanton, with Larry Austin officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.