SYRACUSE – Barbara June "Barb" Lainez, 62, of Etna Green, passed away at 1:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, at her son's home in Warsaw.
She was born on June 3, 1957, in Bremen, to Mahlon E. and Martha Slabaugh Schmucker.
She attended the United Christian School in Nappanee and lived most of her life in the Bremen, Nappanee and Etna Green areas except for 10 years in Honduras. She was married on Dec. 24, 1983, in Honduras, to Rogelio L. Cruz, who survives. She taught English as a second language and was a special education teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Winona Lake for 19 years and served for 10 years as a missionary and teacher in Honduras.
She attended the Iglesia Sinai Pentecostal Church in Goshen.
She is survived by husband, Rogelio Cruz, of Etna Green; sons: Kenneth Lainez, of Etna Green; Caleb Lainez, of Elkhart; Joshua (Brittney) Lainez, of Warsaw; and Kevin Lainez, of Etna Green; two grandchildren, Grace and Mason Lainez; parents, Mahlon and Martha Schmucker, of Bremen; six sisters: Rose Marie (Jerry) Yoder, of Nappanee; Kathleen Blank, of Nappanee; Mary Sue (Mike) Lehman, of Battle Creek, Mich.; Elizabeth (Myron) Miller, of Nappanee; Polly (Sergio) Aguayo, of Bremen; and Rebecca (Stephen) Wallenfelsz, of Elmhurst, Ill.; and four brothers: Samuel (Lori) Schmucker, of Bremen; David Allen Schmucker, of Bremen; William (Wendi) Schmucker, of Fremont; and Joseph Schmucker, of Culver.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Donna Kay Schmucker; brother, Johnathon Schmucker; and twin brothers, David and Daniel Schmucker.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 at Nappanee Missionary Church Sanctuary, 70417 N. Ind. 19, Nappanee. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Nappanee Missionary Church, with Pastor Nemuel Campos officiating.
Burial will take place in the Berea Christian Fellowship Church Cemetery in Nappanee.
Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials to the Barbara Lainez Funeral Fund, c/o Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, IN 46567.
To send condolences to the family in memory of Barbara Lainez, please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
