Barbara Zecevic, born 16 April 1949, Republic of Germany, was the only daughter born to Milentije (or Milan) (about 1917 Yugoslavia - 1974 Yugoslavia) and Katharina (Mueller) Zecevic (1922-2001). The Zecevic family of 5 arrived from Germany into the New York harbor on 20 November 1951, aboard the non-commissioned civilian-crewed ship, USNS General LeRoy Eltinge. The family was designated as “displaced persons” and were sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, Michigan.

Milan would find employment as a janitor with Consumers Power of Michigan while Katharina was a homemaker. Barbara and her 2 brothers, Peter and Yanko, attended Okemos Public Schools. Barbara would graduate with the class of 1967.

During the 1960's Milan and Katharina divorced and Milan remarried a lady named Stefana. Milan succumbed to pneumonia and heart problems in Tutin, Yugoslavia on 5 January 1974 and was interred in a Pope, Yugoslavia cemetery.

Barbara married Edward Joseph “Ed” Stoakes, son of Donald B. and Lucille A. (Kehring) Stoakes. The couple would live in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan for many years. Barbara died, age 54 on 15 March 2004, Grand Rapids. Ed, born 19 April 1943, Detroit, died a year later 23 May 2005, Grand Rapids.

1951 USNS General LeRoy Eltinge ship manifest including Zecevic family

Zecevic family Jackson Citizen Patriot, Jackson, MI 6 December 1951

M. Zecevic 1974 Dept of State, US Embassy death report from Yugoslavia

Zecevic, Barbara 1967 OHS obituary The Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, MI 16 March 2004