Barbara J. Beach

 Barbara Jean Beach, 71, of 1012 N. 5th St., Clear Lake, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at her home. Do to her wishes, she was cremated. Family and friends gathered at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel on Saturday, May 10, 2014 to share memories and to celebrate her life. Family suggest memorials to Barbara Jean Beach Memorial Fund.

 Barbara was born Oct. 31, 1942, on Halloween, in Mason City, the daughter of Orville “Toad” and Mary (Schumacher) Awe. She attended school in Mason City and LeSeur, Minn.
 She married Franc Beach on Sept. 18, 1964, in Owatonna, Minn. They lived throughout the United States and in 1974 moved to Clear Lake.
 She worked at Hanson’s Marine and later for Home Health Care and Good Shepherd.
 She enjoyed going to the Renaissance, gardening, ceramics, reading and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
 Barb was a friend to everyone. Many of them called her mom and was lovingly known as “Little Grama”.
Barbara is survived by her seven children, Rocky Beach, Des Moines, Iowa, Tina Awe, Clear Lake, Brian (Jacque) Beach, Minneapolis, Minn., Sean (Sue) Beach, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Gary Beach, Clear Lake, Jayn (Blair) Bridges, Clear Lake, and Dominick Beach, Mason City; 15 grandchildren, Justin Zelenka, Jason Awe, Jennifer (Travis) Tarr, Sheyanne (Stan) Schultz, Ashley Beach, Arika Beach, Shyann Beach, Alysa Schumaker, Hunter Davis, Parker Davis, Madalyn Davis, Ty Moen, Dominick Beach Jr., Joslyn Beach, Jada Beach and Jenna Beach; three great- grandchildren, Ethan Awe, Madelyn Tarr and Kellan Tarr; and three sisters, Donna Miller, Mankato, Minn., Karen Bohl and Kathy Bohl, both of Manly, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Orville Dean Awe; brother-in-law, Robert Miller; and her step-father, Rudy Bohl.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.