Barbara McDonald

Barbara McDonald, 76, of Berne, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday morning, April 15, 2025, at her residence.

She was born on February 9, 1949, in Decatur, Indiana, to Edward and Helen (Balsiger) Sprunger. Barb was united in marriage to James McDonald in May of 1976, and he tragically passed away in October of 1976 as the result of a farming accident.

She was a member of the First Mennonite Church in Berne, where she was an active member. She was a longtime Sunday school teacher for the three and four-year-old class, which tied into her professional career. Along with her close friend, Lana Schwartz, they were actively involved with the Et Cetera Ecke program at church. She spent her free time participating with the Senior Trips that the church routinely provides. Barb was actively involved with the Library Committee at church by locating and providing books to share with the congregation. She was a member of the Indiana State Teachers Association.

Barb was a career educator for over 30 years. She began her teaching in Goshen, Indiana following her graduation from Goshen College. Following the death of her husband in 1976, she moved back to Berne and was a substitute teacher at South Adams Elementary School and 5th Grade at Geneva Middle School as she raised her son, Jamie. Once Jamie was older, she began teaching full-time at South Adams Middle School, as a 5th Grade Teacher.

Teaching was her life, and it occurred in many different ways. Sharing her faith by her actions in the church and in the community allowed her to serve her neighbor. She also was very devoted to her family and taught them many things. Even though she wasn’t blessed with grandchildren, her generations of nieces and nephews became her grandchildren. She also was not shy about helping babysit others if needed. Her hobbies in life were bird watching, puzzles, gardening, flowers, and spending birthdays and shopping excursions with her friends. She spent and cherished many summers at Oliver Lake, where she would recharge and prepare for another school year.

She is survived by a son, James “Jamie” McDonald, Jr. of Berne, Indiana, and two sisters, Beth Jones of Berne, Indiana, and Candy (Darrell) Schierling of Ft. Mill, South Carolina.

A funeral service for Barb will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the First Mennonite Church in Berne with Pastor Jim Schwartz officiating. Burial will follow at MRE Cemetery in Berne.

Friends and family will be received from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025, at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel, and from 9:15 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Barb’s family would ask for preferred memorials be made in her honor to Hope Clinic; ACCF – Barbara McDonald Scholarship Fund; or First Mennonite Church Mission Festival.

Arrangements are by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel of Berne, Indiana