In Memory
Barbara J. (Baird) Werntz
August 21, 1938 ~ February 5, 2024
Barbara J. Werntz, 85, of South Bend, Indiana passed away at 7:14 p.m. Monday, February 5, 2024, in St. Joseph Medical Center. Barbara was born on August 21, 1938 in South Bend, Indiana to Robert R. and Delana (Carr) Baird. Robert died when Barbara was very young and she was raised by Delena and Matthew Zultanski, whom she loved dearly. Barbara was a 1956 graduate of Riley High School. She worked at the former Ball Band for a few years while she studied nursing at Ivy Tech and then later earned her RN degree from Southwestern Michigan University. Her nursing career began in the labor and delivery department at South Bend Osteopathic Hospital and continued at St Joseph Hospital in Mishawaka. After her “official” retirement in 2019, she went to work at the Sisters of Holy Cross where she enjoyed caring for the retired nuns at St Mary’s Convent.
Barbara married Roy Nixon in 1955. Their marriage ended after fifteen years and Barbara remarried Dale Werntz who preceded her in death in 1984.
Barbara is survived by her five children, Stephen R. Nixon of South Bend, Indiana, Debra L. Laxson of Tigard, Oregon, Sandra (Tim) Rohdy of Mishawaka, Indiana, Mary Christine Werntz of Elkhart, Indiana and Tracy D. (Joe) Coda of Osceola, Indiana; and her step-daughter Teri Golubski, f fifteen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren.
Barbara was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon Ptacek; and two brothers, Darryl Zultanski and Matthew H. Zultanski, II. She is survived by two sisters, Kathy Laxson of Canby, Oregon and Mary (Tim) Potter of South Bend, Indiana; and one brother Timothy (Kris) Zultanski of Granger, Indiana.
Barbara was very fond of spending time with her family and friends at Rocky’s Hideaway on Harwood Lake. She loved fishing from her pontoon. She also loved bowling and playing women’s softball during her years at Ball Band. She enjoyed making friends at the casino as well. Her favorite home pastime was QVC.
A Catholic Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2024 in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home, where a rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family asks you to consider a donation of blood to the South Bend Medical Foundation in the honor of Barbara Werntz.
02/07/2024 djb
Thomas Stephen Lynch Bohan (1956)
It is with sorrow that I found today the announcment of Barb's death. She was the friend of my youth--indeed, my elementary school girl friend--and of our old age after I reconnected with her 15 years ago. I fortunate enough to visit her in South Bend with my wife several times after that. Visits I treasure. On one of those visits we reminisced about the night in the early 1950s when, while visiting her at her Bowman St. home, I tried to impress her by giving a bike to her two barefooted brothers at the same time. The ride ended abruply when the younger boy got his toes caught in my rear spokes and lacerated (a permanent scarring I later learned). I thought it best to go home after that. When I telephoned Barb an hour later, she assured me that everything was ok, but that I probably should not come back that night.