WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Caroline Louise (Seng) Barkow, age 95, of Three Rivers, Michigan, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, joining her loving husband of 58 years, The Reverend Roland R. Barkow.
Caroline was born in Kendallville, Indiana, on February 2, 1931, the daughter of Homer L. and Mildred J. (Yentes) Seng.
Upon graduating from Concordia College (Fort Wayne, Indiana) Caroline accepted a call teaching kindergarten at a Lutheran school in Jasper, Missouri, near where her college sweetheart/future husband was attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. On Nov. 29, 1958, in a small ceremony, their lives became one, bonded in a love of God and love for one another. Together they began their Christ-filled journey in Lutheran ministry starting in Minnesota, then later in Ionia, Michigan, until they found a home at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Three Rivers, where Caroline taught preschool Sunday school for 27 years. She loved sharing Jesus with the little ones and especially enjoyed helping them make religious ornaments for their family Christmas trees. Years and decades later, she would be thrilled when former students, now adults with children of their own, would tell her that they still have the ornament they made in her class and that they hang it on their Christmas tree every year.
Over the years, Caroline had many hobbies: decorating eggshells, writing children stories, making greeting cards (before computers, no less), and orchestrating “dinner parties” and fun activities for her grandchildren. She even took a class on clowning at Glen Oaks Community College. “Carrie Clown” appeared on stage performing a high-wire act while wearing a clown outfit that she made herself. Why did she do it? To make others laugh and smile.
Caroline was very proud of her three sons, but probably not so much when her boys called the local radio station (WLKM) to include their mom’s birthday on the daily birthday announcement. When asked how old their mother was, the boys, too young to know any better, proudly announced that “Mom’s 40!” And yes, Caroline’s birthday and that she “turns 40 today” was announced to the entire city of Three Rivers.
Even in her final days, Caroline enjoyed helping her granddaughters with crafts (unwinding a ball of yarn while one of them crochets), reading Dr. Seuss books and Christian children’s books from her hospital bed to her sons and daughters-in-law, saying the Lord’s Prayer, and singing “Jesus Loves Me,” knowing that He most certainly does.
And let’s not forget that Caroline taught all 3 of her boys how to make pizza and instilled in them the on-going tradition that pizza is always best served on Friday nights with the family gathered together in front of the TV.
Her memory will be cherished by her three sons: Jonathan Barkow, Joel & Mary Barkow, and Joseph & Kathie Barkow; grandchildren, Talitha, Anastasia, Josiah & Kaitlin, Kelia & Michael, Kiah and Katryel; great-grandsons Henry, Stetson, and Oliver, and a great-granddaughter on the way; sister-in-law Linda Seng; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers, MI. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Dr., Portage, MI., The Rev. Paul Naumann officiating. The service will be followed by a 3 pm graveside ceremony at Moorepark Cemetery, 16960 Moorepark Rd. Three Rivers, MI.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church (Portage, Michigan), Worship Anew (Fort Wayne, Indiana) and Lutheran Hour Ministries (St. Louis, Missouri).
