Barbara “Barb” Pearce

August 18, 1946 – April 10, 2025

Barbara “Barb” Pearce of Eagle Lake (Edwardsburg, MI) passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 10 after a brief illness. 

She was born on August 18, 1946 in Detroit Michigan to Charles and Doris Ladzick.  She graduated from Western Michigan University and was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

After graduating from Western Michigan, Barb was a Middle School teacher in Brownsburg, Indiana.  In the late 1970’s, she reluctantly moved to Elkhart when her husband Wayne was offered a new job. She quickly came to love Elkhart, forging lifelong friendships that she cherished like family. 

Barb was the co-owner of RE/MAX Excellence in Elkhart for over 35 years. She had a passion for real estate, simply because she loved helping people.  Many of her close friendships were with her former clients. While she retired a few years ago, she continued to be active in the real estate industry - giving advice and lending her expertise. 

A devoted, thoughtful and engaged Grandma, her Grandchildren were the light of her life.  She never missed a monthly birthday text and kept up on everything going on in her Grandkid’s lives.  For this and so many other reasons, they absolutely adored her. 

Appropriately deemed “The Matriarch” of the family, a title she loved and lived up to, she was glue of the family. Always organizing and hosting the family gatherings, she was so happy having everyone together, laughing and enjoying a boat ride with a glass of Chardonnay in hand. 

Barb was preceded in death by her loving husband of 49 years, Wayne; She is survived by her daughter Suzanne (Rick) Tufts and granddaughter Blair Tufts of Elkhart;  her son Ryan (Melissa) Pearce and grandson Callen Pearce; granddaughter Cora Pearce of Riverside, IL  She is also survived by her sisters Jane Morgan of Cape Coral, FL; Donna (Bill) Gordon of Spring Lake, MI; Margie Ladzick of Ann Arbor, MI; brother-in-law Dale Pearce of Kewadin, MI; Sister-in-law Adrienne Zaitz of Germantown, TN; and several nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by many close friends who were a constant presence during her life.  The family cannot thank them enough for their support and friendship.

A celebration to toast Barb's incredible life will be announced at a later date. Donations in Barb’s name can be made to Elkhart High School Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 1243, Elkhart, IN 46515

Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home has been entrusted with her care.