Barabra Jean Kissinger

Barbara Jean (Dorey) Kissinger, of Kalamazoo passed away on Friday, December 11, 2020 at her home surrounded by loved ones. The daughter of Marvin and Betty (Weinberg) Dorey, she was born on April 21, 1958 and grew up in the town of Vicksburg, MI.  Attending the Vicksburg Community Schools, she graduated in June of 1977.  When Barbara was in high school her 7-year-old nephew Peter Leja passed away from cancer. At that time Barbara set her sights on going into the medical field.  She became a certified nurse’s aide and devoted 42 years of working in nursing homes, adult foster homes and the last 15 years worked for Spectrum Health, working in the homes of brain injury patients. On September 18, 1982, Barbara was married to Timothy L. Kissinger, who preceded her in death on January 7, 2020. She was also preceded in passing by her father, Marvin in 2009 and recently her mother, Betty on November 18, 2020. They never had children but were blessed with many nieces and nephews. Barbara was a past member of Mid-Lakes Chorus of Sweet Adelines Int’l. and a member of St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Kalamazoo. Barb loved to travel throughout the state of Michigan, weekend trips to her sister Maxine and Dave’s cabin in Lake City and rafting down the Muskegon river. She also traveled throughout the United States, all the way to California. She is survived by her siblings, Walter (Patricia) Dorey, Darlene Leja, LouAnn Laurence, Maxine Haywood; sister-in-law, Christina Dorey; in-laws, Sharon (Greg) Kilburn and Susan VandenBerg; many nieces and nephews.  She was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Dorey; brothers-in-law, Henry Leja, James Laurence and David Haywood; nephew, Peter Leja and great niece, Alexis Peterson.