Obituary of John Barry

John Barry John Barry passed away from frontal temporal dementia in Lacey, Washington on October 23, 2013. He was 69. John was born to Edward and Francis Deleskiewicz Barry on February 8, 1944 in Evanston, Illinois. He attended St. Mary’s Grade School, St. George’s High School and graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1962. After a short stint as a meat cutter, John served in the Army from 1965 to 1968. He graduated in 1972 from Northern Illinois University with a BS in Education. He earned an MA in Education from Pacific Lutheran University in 1983. John’s passion in life was his work as an elementary school teacher. After teaching one year in Illinois, he taught 29 years for Olympia School District, dividing his time between Pioneer and Centennial Elementary Schools. Many former students fondly remember him for the rocketry unit culminating in launching rockets. He retired in 2002. Before the progression of his disease, John enjoyed golf, gardening, model railroading, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. But his favorite activity was to spend time with family, friends and neighbors. John is survived by his wife, Peg; children, Erin (Jason) Amann of Federal Way, Kevin (Carol) of Vancouver, BC; brother, Tom (Kathy) of Dallas, TX; sisters, Cathy (Jim) Morton of Wilmette, IL and Judy (Milton) Smith of Greenville, SC. He also leaves three precious grandchildren, Lucy, Josie and Evan; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. The family would like to thank the Long Lake Adult Family Home and Puget Sound Hospice for their wonderful care of John. A memorial mass is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1208 11th Ave SE, Olympia 98501. The mass will be followed by a celebration of John’s life in the Gathering Space at the church. In his memory, the family suggests donations to St. Jude’s Research Hospital or your favorite charity benefiting children. Please leave memories of John or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.