Mike Barrett, 72, of Beatrice, passed away at home on Monday, March 25, 2024.
Milan “Mike” John Barrett was born July 18, 1951, to Howard and Ellen (Morey) Barrett at Cedar Valley Hospital in Charles City, Iowa. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1969 and enlisted in the United States Army the same year. Mike completed two tours of duty in Vietnam and was stationed at Binh Thuy, Chu Lai and Da Nang. For his service, Mike was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
On March 23, 1973, Mike was united in marriage to Julie Ann Groesbeck. He worked full-time as a welder while completing coursework at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and graduated in 1976 with a degree in marketing. Soon after, Mike accepted a position in the field of agriculture and Mike, Julie and their young daughter, Jennifer, born in 1975, moved to rural Conrad. Mike’s career in agriculture would span the next 25 years.
Mike and Julie’s second daughter, Teresa, was born in 1980 and, in 1983, the family relocated to a small acreage in rural Charles City where they would live for 10 years. Both Mike and Julie had visited special relatives’ farms as children and, together, taught themselves how to manage their own farm while raising a variety of animals, growing produce and tending to the land.
In late 1992, Mike accepted a position with the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Plymouth and in the spring of 1993, the family moved to Wilber, which would be their home for more than 26 years. In 2002, Mike began work at First Tri-County Bank in Swanton. He retired from the bank as a senior vice president in July of 2017.
Throughout his life, Mike was known to be conscientious and a hard worker, eager to lend a helping hand when needed. He served on various boards and in volunteer positions including the Wilber Care Center Board of Directors, Swanton Volunteer Fire Department and First Tri-County Bank Board of Directors, among others.
Mike also enjoyed socializing, playing cards and spending time with friends over coffee. He maintained a lifelong love of hunting and fishing and developed skills as both an excellent marksman and master fisherman. For more than 20 years, Mike took part in Canadian fishing trips and was awarded the Manitoba Master Angler certification numerous times. He was also a talented carpenter and multi-sport athlete. His love of the game of golf, though, was his most cherished pastime later in life.
Living family members include Julie, Mike’s former wife of 46 years, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; two daughters, Jennifer (Jody) Armentrout of Portland, Texas, and Teresa Barrett (Joey Zehner) of Des Moines, Iowa; two grandchildren, Logan and Grayce Armentrout; two brothers, Tom (Joy) Barrett of Blue Ridge, Georgia, and Pat (Judy) Barrett of Floyd, Iowa; a sister, Karen McGinn of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, special relatives, and dear friends. The loss of Mike has left us heartbroken.
He was preceded in death by his parents; half-brother, Robert Barrett; and brother-in-law, Bob McGinn.
Cremation has taken place and a private burial with military honors will be scheduled on a future date. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Bryan Independence Center, 1640 Lake Street, Lincoln, NE. Arrangements by Fox Funeral Home & Cremations Services of Beatrice.
