Barbara J. Hitz Melhus

Barbara J. Hitz Melhus, passed away Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at St. Anthony’s Medical Center in Rockford, IL. Cremation rites will be accorded. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church of Mount Carroll, IL. Inurnment will then take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, in Mount Carroll. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PEO Sisters, or the First Baptist Church.

Barbara was born February 15, 1928, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Dr. Leonard and Pauline (Amstutz) Hitz. She grew up, and graduated high school in Chicago. Barbara was a loving mother of two daughters, Paula and Laura. On December 1979, she married Larry Melhus in Mount Carroll, he passed away in 1986. Barbara spent most of her life caring for those she loved.

Barbara will be dearly missed by her two daughters, Paula Fossum of Mason, MI, and Laura (Rod) Heeringa of Everson, WA; seven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; four nephews; and two nieces.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Jimmy “Doc” Hitz, and Jack Hitz; her baby sister Mary Jo; and two great-grandsons, Jakob Kralapp and Case Heeringa.