Barb began her life with her mother, Winifred, and father, Warren on Sept. 13, 1945 in the Chicago area. She shared her younger years with 2 older brothers, Bob in Aurora, IL, and Bill, deceased. Barb was exposed to bowling very early in life since her mother managed a small bowling alley in the very small town of Redkey, IN where they resided until 1952 when they moved to the Chicago suburb of Bellwood, IL. That same year her Dad took her to watch the Peterson Classic which Barb will always remember because she met Don Carter, Dick Weber, and Buss Fazio because her Uncle was bowling in the tournament. At that time she couldn’t have imagined that in her future years she would bowl with Dick Weber’s wife and daughter on the same lanes at the WIBC tournament in St. Louis. Dick Weber was there and she mentioned the first time she met him in 1952 – unfortunately he didn’t remember her and she just couldn’t imagine why!!!

Barb bowled in GAA Bowling in high school and on the Northern Illinois University’s intercollegiate traveling team for about 3 years. After graduating from Northern Illinois, she relocated to teach at Midstate College of Commerce in Rockford, IL where (during the time she was teaching, she met her husband, Jerry). They married July 5, 1969 and after 10 years started a family having 2 sons, Scott and Matt. Both boys bowled in Youth and Junior leagues at Bowl Aire Lanes where Barb was a junior bowling coach for approximately 6 years.

Barb started her bowling career in Beloit in 1973 bowling in the R&R Early Birds league. She joined the Bowl Aire Women’s League in 1978 where she continues to bowl on Thursday night. She also bowled in the 9 PM Wednesday night league at Bowl Aire. Barb’s highest average was 185 in 1973-74. She bowled a high game of 289 and high series of 704 on 10/14/93. This was her proudest achievement since that was high game for the city that year. Barb has been bowling in the Beloit City tournament for many years where her team won the championship in 2006 and 2008. Barb, along with Sue Moen, also won the Doubles Scratch in 1988. Barb has served as league President, Secretary and Treasurer over her bowling years and served on the Greater Beloit Bowling Council and Beloit Women’s Association board. She served as Nominations Committee Chairman for BWBA for the last four years.

Barb’s first exposure to the Women’s National tournament was in 1977, “A bit of Heaven in ’77, in Milwaukee. Although she has attended 28 National Tournaments, she has bowled in only 27 tournaments because she missed the tournament in Reno in 2009. She landed in the hospital after stepping off the curb across from the Bowling stadium and broke her leg

Barb has bowled in the State Tournaments with Sue Moen, Denise Jenson, Mary Jackson, Patti Miller, Judy Schoenike, Sue Porter, and Kim Finnegan.

Barb, Thank you, for your support to bowling.