Barbara E. Cross

It is with much sorrow that the family announces the death of Barbara Ellen Cross-Klingbeil (Jokela), who died peacefully at home with Billy by her side, on December 9, 2022 at the age of 78. She had been dealing with dementia for several years and succumbed to a brain cancer.

Born on February 23, 1944 at Newcomb Corner, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Barb was the 3rd daughter of the late Eino and Grace (Miller) Jokela. She grew up there and lived her early years studying hard. She was a very determined woman. When she was 29, Barb left the workforce and enrolled at Dalhousie University where she earned an M.B.A. In her last year at Dal, she was recruited by General Motors and worked for them for over 30 years in Oshawa, Ontario, Ypsilanti, Michigan, and later transferred to the plant in Toledo. When she moved to the United States, she met her best friend and partner, William Klingbeil. She and Bill were married for 37 years and made their home in Oregon, Ohio.

Barb was well known for being generous, kind and an introvert. She was not a fussy eater, but anyone who knew her understood her love for sweet treats, especially cookies and ice cream. Barb had a life-long love of reading and learning and spent many happy hours as well doing jigsaw puzzles while listening to Leonard Cohen and Irish music. She enjoyed gardening and had lots of hostas. She, Bill and little dog, Suzy spent many happy times walking in the numerous parks nearby.

Left to treasure her memory are her husband, William (Bill) Klingbeil (Oregon, Ohio); daughter Heather Jensen (Wade), grandchildren Emily, Tiffany and Noah (South Carolina); sisters Olla Wheeler, (Kingston, ON) and Wilma Jokela (Halifax, NS); sisters-in-law Elizabeth Jean Jokela and Joyce Wood; nieces Shelley Thompkins, Terri Baumgartner (Andrew, Alex and Eric Langenderfer) and Angie Wood (Landon and AnnMarie); nephews Stephen (Maureen) Jokela, Tim Jokela, and Ben (Melanie) Jokela.

Barb was predeceased by her parents, Eino and Grace; step-father Lee Whitman; sister Eva Jokela; brothers Robert, John, and Bernard Jokela; brothers-in-law Kenneth Hawkins and John Wheeler; sister-in-law Rita Jokela; and nephew Jimmer Wood.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift in Barb’s memory to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.