Jean Barbe

Jean Louis Barbe, 78, of Iron Mountain, passed away on Friday July 15, 2011 at ManorCare Health and Rehabilitation Center in Kingsford. He was born on February 9, 1933 in St. Charles, Ontario, Canada, the son of the late, George and Juliette (Fournier) Barbe. Jean was from a big family and was born on the family farm in Canada. After graduating from Sudbury High School, he attended Michigan Technological University on a hockey scholarship. Four years later Jean graduated from Michigan Tech. with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering and a silver NCAA medal. He married the former Sheila Ann Richards on June 8, 1957 in Hancock, MI. Jean’s engineering career started first in Canada and then moved to Arizona. He settled in Iron Mountain to become a partner in Northland Equipment and Supply where he retired from in 1985. Because he enjoyed all aspects of his work so much throughout the years, his retirement was short lived. Jean went back to work in sales in the Chicago area before returning to Iron Mountain to manage Pine Grove Country Club for several years until his second retirement. Jean was very family oriented and loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He also loved to play golf and was a terrific cook and French bread baker. Jean is survived by his wife, Sheila; daughters, Mary Bridget (Larry) Wetzel of Gainesville, FL, Julie (David) Sprenger of Laurium, MI and Cally (John) Furton of Highland Park, IL; grandchildren, Diane, Daniel and Douglas Wetzel and Andrew, Grant and Reid Furton; sisters, Georgette LaLonde of Sudbury, Ontario, Aline LeCoup of Sudbury, Ontario, Alice (John) Souliere of North Bay, Ontario and Claire (Kenneth) Conlon of Coniston, Ontario. He is also survived by a sister in law, Mary Clare (Raymond) Branz of Naples, FL and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Rene, Ernest and Hector Barbe and a sister, Germaine Halverson. Visitation will be Monday, July 25th from 10-11:00am at St. Mary and St. Joseph Church in Iron Mountain. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Monday July 25th at St. Mary and St. Joseph Church . Fr. Paul Nomellini will offer the Mass of the Christian burial. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his memory to the Alzheimers Assoc. Greater Michigan Chapter, Upper Penninsula Region. 710 Chippewa Square #281, Marquette, MI 49855 or the Dickinson Co. Cancer Care Unit/Loan Closet. Condolences to the family of Jean Barbe may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

Jean Barbe

July 15, 1933 - July 15, 2011