ROLAND WESLEY BARR 1929-2001

SWENSON, BARR, BECHTEL, SCHMELZER, OLSON, LARSON

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 8/9/2007 at 15:01:51

ROLAND WESLEY BARR

Roland W. Barr, 72, of Waukon, died Tues., May 1, 2001, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon following a sudden illness.

Funeral services were held Sat., May 5, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon with Rev. Lynn Groe officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Roland Wesley Barr was born April 8, 1929, on the Franklin Township, rural Waukon farm of his parents, Chet, Sr. and Ethel (Swenson) Barr. He attended the rural "Olde Red School" and graduated from Waukon High School in 1947.

On Oct. 13, 1949, he married Ruby Charlotte Bechtel in Waukon. Roland worked for the Waukon Creamery for several years and then spent over 20 years working at Hygrade Packing Plant in Postville. He enjoyed taking walks in the country and watching birds and flowers. He also liked fishing, reading and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Roland is preceded in death by his father, Chet; his wife, Ruby; a grandson; Walker Olson; and a great granddaughter, Carly Larson. Survivors include his mother, Ethel Barr of Waukon, three sons, Perry Barr of Decorah, Brent (Nita) Barr of Cave Springs, AR, and Bruce (Rhonda) Barr of Waukon; three daughters, Penny Barr of Waukon, Sandra (Rick) Schmelzer of Springdale, AR, and Sheila (Dean) Olson of Waukon; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Chet, Jr. (Norma) Barr of Lansing.

Casketbearers were Perry, Brent, Bruce and Josh Barr, Rick and Colby Schmelzer, Casey Larson, and Dean Olson.

Martin Funeral Home of Waukon assisted the family.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.