Barbara "Barb" Jean Lerchenfeld

Barbara “Barb” Jean Lerchenfeld of Caseville, age 80, passed away at Covenant HealthCare – Cooper in Saginaw, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, after an unexpected medical emergency. Barb was born on June 2, 1946, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Anthony and Genevieve (Kosikowski) Lipiec and was a 1964 graduate of Pershing High School. She met Denis “Duke” Lerchenfeld through her brother Tony, and the couple would soon become inseparable. They married and started the beloved family that would become her entire life. He preceded her in death. Barb always put others before herself, helping take care of her grandsons, volunteering with the Caseville Eagles, and making sure her friends and family always had the support they needed. In her free time, Barb enjoyed Bingo and taking senior trips with her friends to stay active and social. She was a deeply religious woman who lived her faith through her actions, giving her kindness and love to all those around her.

Barb is survived by children, Karl (Jodi) Lerchenfeld and Stacy (Donnie) Tye; grandchildren, Madison Meyer, Trevor Tye, Cade Lerchenfeld, Trince Tye, and Zegen Lerchenfeld; and sister, Gwen Ploe; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family members, friends, and her best friend Joan Lester.

In addition to her parents, Barb is reunited in death with her loving husband Duke whom she missed every day; her brother, Tony Lipiec; and her niece, Kimberly Lipiec. 

A funeral service for Barb will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Ransford Funeral Home – Pigeon, 7356 Michigan Avenue, Pigeon, MI 48755. Visitation will take place on Tuesday at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. A graveside committal service will be held the following day, Wednesday, July 8, at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery 17100 Van Dyke Avenue, Detroit, MI 48234. Memorial contributions may be made to the FRAXA Research Foundation or Down Syndrome Support Team.