Donald Barry

Don was born on August 1, 2028, an adventurous child growing up in Escanaba, Michigan. He told stories of snowball fights, biking (sometimes with acorn “ammunition,”) football games in the park and ice skating (he only fell through the ice once).

He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps before joining the Army. Don served in the Asian theater cooking and supervising a mess tent. We salute the troops who endured his cooking. His specialty was cooking eggs and assured us that a few eggshells never killed anyone.

Don went to the University of Michigan after his Army discharge and enjoyed college life and learning very much. He became an experienced hitch hiker between Escanaba and Ann Arbor in the days before the Mackinac Bridge and managed to get back to campus just in time for many classes and tests. He used those hitchhiking skills to travel cross country to Rose Bowl or two before graduating as a pharmacist.

Don worked as a retail pharmacist in Ishpeming, bought Johnson’s Pharmacy in Marquette, serviced many nursing homes in the area and finished his career as a hospital pharmacist in Newberry.

Don’s personal life changed forever when he met Kathleen Butler. They were married at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Marquette on June 15, 1957 and celebrated 69 years together. Their family grew to include eight children who they raised to love and support each other. He was a Michigan Wolverines and Packers fan, He was active as an usher and stalwart at perpetual adoration at his parish. While living in Newberry he was a volunteer EMT with the ambulance service, and volunteered with the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus.

He was predeceased by his father, Herbert, mother, Marion, brother, Roger, sister, Helen Pamela, brother-in-law John Pavela, son Fred, and great grandsons Maddox and Michael Schaffer. He was also preceded in death by his in-laws Bernie and Alice Butler and Bob and Betty Ann Dagenais and Jack, Jane, Bonnie and Carmen Butler.

Donald is survived by his wife, Kathleen Barry and seven of his children: Lynn Barry (John Archambeault), Ruth Barry (Kak Koonnala), Mike Barry (Sue King-Barry), Sue (Pete) Chinnici, Joe Barry, Nancy (Chaz) Sarver, Patty (Jason) Lee, daughter-in law Jackie Barry, sister-in-law Betty Barry and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by grandchildren; Katie, Nathan, and Heaven Archambeault, Murray (Cody) Bonk, Kasaim (Lucy Mathews, fiancé) Koonnala, Renae (Grayson) Barbie, Anna Barry-Wolbers (CeeJay Wolbers), Eric (Jenny) Watson, Mitchell (Jenna) Barry, John Chinnici, Olivia, Michael, and Vanessa Barry, Rose (Mathew) Schaffer, Miriam (Micah) Vincent, Adeline (Steven) Garcia, Gloria (James) Creighton, Margaret, Sophia, John, and Alexander Sarver, Silvia Barry, Naomi and Jade Lee.

Great grandchildren, Willow and Grace Bonk, Mae Wolbers, Cade Barbot, Benjamin Watson, Drew Barry, Stella Zita, Thea, Tiberius, Amadeus, Romulus and Ursula Vincent, and Ignatius, Alphonsus, Bruno, Agnes and Imelda Garcia.

Dad, it’s hard to let you go. But it is calming to think of you with family who have gone before you, especially Fred Maddox and Michael who I’m sure met you at the gates of heaven. (You didn’t remind St. Peter to close the gate did you?)

You led by example to work hard and get to school or work on time and earn your grades and your wages (you made us keep that walking paper route for a full year before you let us quit.) Show up for supper and don’t be a picky eater (liver was the only exception from the former army cook.) Squeeze in vacation time with the family for fun and memories (we have lots of photos and DVD’s of vacations and holidays). If one of us needed help you were only a phone call away and you always showed up for any of us because we are family.

Thank you for the time, love and effort you gave us. This family is proud of you and we were lucky to have you as our husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Every one of us will CLOSE THE DOOR! Any time we come or go and forever think of you with love and respect and smiles.

Friends may call at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Brandon Oman officiating. A reception will immediately follow in the reception room at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services. Interment will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Care Clinic, 1213 N 3rd Street Marquette, MI. 49855.

The Canale Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at canalefuneral.com