Barbara Knapp Hill Glenn Barbara Knapp Hill, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend died at the age of 74 in Stuart, FL on May 5, 2012 after a long, courageous battle with heart disease. Barb Knapp was born on May 28, 1937 in Battle Creek, MI to Cornelia and Bill Knapp. Starting at age 11 she worked for her father in his restaurant and graduated from Lakeview High School in 1955. She then attended the University of Michigan where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She married Jerry Hill on July 6, 1957 and moved soon after to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Jerry was stationed in the Navy. After the Navy they returned to Battle Creek where her lifelong DEVOTION to volunteerism and service to her community started even while she was busy raising three sons. Over the decades she served in leadership positions at S.A.F.E. Place of Battle Creek, the American Lung Association and Planned Parenthood of Southwest Michigan. She was the first female chairman of the Battle Creek Community Foundation and was a driving force in the creation of Kellogg's Cereal City USA. At one point she chaired four different boardsat the same time! They were the Michigan Crime Victims Compensation board, the B.C. Community Foundation board, the Lakeview Schools Educational Foundation board and the Cereal Museum board. In 1981 Barb suffered a massive heart attack that nearly took her life and left her with a heart operating at 40% capacity. She proved over the next 31 years that it's not how well your heart works, but what's in your heart that counts. What a difference those 31 years made to all who knew and loved her. In 1986 she received a "George" award from the Battle Creek Enquirer and News in recognition of all the lives she had positively affected in her community because of her on-going volunteer work. In 1999 Barb and Jerry moved to their beloved Lake Lodge in Glenn overlooking Lake Michigan. Throughout her life Barb enjoyed nothing more than hosting family and friends for wonderful dinner parties and family gatherings. No one ever left her home hungry or hungering for friendship as she always had more than enough of both for everyone. In 2003 she and Jerry began spending winters on Hutchinson Island, FL where she found a whole new group of friends to share life with. Even as her health declined she continued her service to community as a volunteer at SafeSpace of Stuart, FL and was named "Volunteer of the Year" for that organization just three days before she died. Barb LOVED her family and friends above all else and she cared for, helped, nurtured and supported all of them more than words can ever adequately convey. The courage and grace she displayed in the face of incredible health obstacles throughout her life was inspiring to all who knew and loved her. She is survived by Jerry, her husband of 54 years and sons Mark (Anne) Hill of Traverse City, MI, Tim (Char) Hill of Grand Rapids, MI and Chris (Kathy) Hill of Greensboro, NC. Also surviving are the "loves of her life", her grandchildren Carly, Lindsay, Kate, Jared and Charlie. A celebration of her life will be held on May 19 at 11am at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Saugatuck followed by a party honoring her at Marro's Restaurant in Saugatuck. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Barb Hill Youth Education fund at Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan or in her name to S.A.F.E. Place of Battle Creek or SafeSpace of Stuart, FL.

Published in Battle Creek Enquirer on Tuesday May 8, 2012 Page A5 col. 3