Barbara Ruth Unger

Barbara Unger was called home to be with her Lord and Savior in the early morning of Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Barbara was a dearly loved and well-respected mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher, choral director, camp director and friend. She grew up in Milwaukee, WI, attending Lutheran schools from first grade through college. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education from Concordia College (now Concordia University) in River Forest, IL and for her first teaching assignment, taught 2nd grade at Trinity Lutheran School in St. Joseph, MI. She met her husband, Ralph Unger in the summer of 1953 working on staff at Camp Arcadia, a Lutheran retreat center in northern Michigan, and began her long and impactful relationship with the camp. She subsequently served Camp Arcadia as a board member of the Lutheran Camp Association, as Camp Manager, and as Camp Director.

Barbara had a deep love for music, especially sacred choral music, which gave her peace, joy and inspiration throughout her life. She sang in the concert choir during her college years, conducted the Senior Choirs at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Detroit and St. Paul’s Farmington Hills, MI and later, sang for many years with the Detroit Lutheran Singers (DLS), also serving as DLS secretary.

As a Pastor’s wife, teacher and mother of five, Barbara influenced the lives of many. She was called “Mom Unger” not only by her own children but also by their friends, by the members of the St. Timothy church youth group and by camp staffers who worked for her in the summers at Arcadia. She enjoyed baking and her children and grandchildren (including all of her many extra “children/grandchildren”) have wonderful memories of her bread, coffee cakes and, especially, her cinnamon buns. She instilled faith, a strong sense of responsibility and joy (especially in and through music) in all of her children. She is perhaps most revered for her disciplined approach to faith and life.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Rev. Ralph E. Unger, her grandson Nicholas Boyle, her great granddaughter Mary Robin Champion and her brothers, Robert and Thomas Bruening. She is survived by her children, son Robert (MaryAnn), son John, daughter Susan Wyeth (Jay), daughter Victoria Gallagher (Patrick) and daughter Sarah Boyle (David) along with her grandchildren, Kate, Karyn, Jason, David, Kalyn, Leah, Jacob, Ty, Noah, Melainey, and Emma; Justin and Liesel; Joshua; Ryan, Jason, Austin and Brandon; Daniel and Molly; Matthew and Mikayla, her 26 great grandchildren, all of whom, along with her extended family members, dear friends, former neighbors and congregants, are comforted knowing that she is face to face with her Savior Jesus, joyfully and eternally.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, 11:00am at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1822 E Grand Ave, Lindenhurst, IL 60046. A Celebration of Life will be held in Arcadia, MI, July 2027. The family requests that memorials be designated to Camp Arcadia, Arcadia, MI or to the Detroit Lutheran Singers. The latter memorials may be mailed to Detroit Lutheran Singers, PO Box 721245, Berkley, MI 48072