John Leonard Barber Sr.

John's first job, at age 16, was at the National T grocery store where he earned 50 cents a week and all the rotten bananas he wanted. He saved up $3.50 to buy his first bike. John worked as manager of the store whenever his boss vacationed. After graduating from Denfeld High School, John got a job at U.S. Steel in Morgan Park where he worked 32 years. He was promoted to develop a safety program and then instructed employees accordingly. He left the plant for a few years to join the Coast Guard during WWII and participated in the Normandy invasion by transporting soldiers and equipment to the beach. During his years at the steel plant, hard-working John also repaired bicycles, built a couple of fishing boats and his prized ice sailboat, fixed up and rented duplexes, ran a hamburger/pinball joint in Superior called "The John," and sold real estate with the Doyle Agency. John and Mardell met at the curling club and continued their interest in skating by owning and operating five roller skating rinks at various times in Fond du Lac, Proctor (the Rainbow Roller Rink at the Fairgrounds), Hibbing and also weekly at the Barnum and Duquette town halls. After retirement, he and wife Mardell spent winters in Florida where they enjoyed fishing (John's lifelong passion), shuffleboard, potluck picnics, game nights, and riding their 3-wheel bikes. Fellow snowbirds looked forward to John's arrival to organize the park's activities. John also enjoyed flea marketing and would wear funny hats or wigs to get attention. He and his two brothers, Eugene and Wilbur were interviewed on July 30, 2008 by Sam Cook for an article in the Duluth News Tribune, "Barber Brothers Have Spent the Last Eight Decades Fishing Together." He was dearly loved.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mardell, brothers Leonard, Robert and Eugene and sister June.

He is survived by son ,John Jr. (Sandy) of Brainerd; daughters, Carol (Bob) White and Donna (Larry) Olson , both of Duluth, and Patsy (Greg) Harding of Shoreview; brothers, Wilbur of Superior and David of Albany, OR; and sister, Lillian (Dave) Beran of Duluth, 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 18 great-great grandchildren; and special friends.

Visitation: 10:00 until the 11:00 a.m. Celebration of Life Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at United Lutheran Church of Proctor, 701 3rd Ave. Interment at Park Hill Cemetery in Duluth.