Elsie M. Barry

Elsie Marie Barry was born November 23, 1925 on a farm south of Lake Park, Iowa to Martha W. Finnern and Peter F. Gosch. She passed away December 26, 2013 at the Saunders Medical Center, Wahoo, Nebraska. Her family moved to a farm near Harris, Iowa in 1932 where she had her Lutheran confirmation and graduated from high school in 1943. In high school she was active in sports (basketball and softball) and the school musical. Over the years she found work doing a variety of jobs including waitressing, in-weaving, drapery making, and a 1944/45 stint with Western Union transcribing telegrams in Omaha and Seattle. She married Medford Barry in 1960 residing at their farm for 35 years before moving to Wahoo. At his death in 2007, they had been married 47 years. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Medford Barry; three brothers, Walter of Redfeather Lakes, CO, Arnold of Milford, IA, Carl of Waukegan, IL; and two sisters, Loretta Olsen of Brainerd, MN, and Doris McGinnis of Omaha. She is survived by her stepchildren, Phyllis (Martin) LaForte of Canton, Mich. and Eldon Barry of Colon; sons Dan (Susan) Barry of Racine, WI, and Daryl Barry of Wahoo; grandchildren, Russell (Lindsey) LaForte of Okemos, MI, and Chris LaForte of West Palm Beach, FL, Tatiana and Victoria Barry of Racine, WI; great-grandson Henry LaForte and many nieces & nephews. She left a note expressing her love for her extended family. Elsie enjoyed a wide range of hobbies and interests including textile arts such as weaving and quilting, as well as antiques and bowling. She was active in her church serving as Sunday School secretary, Presbyterian Women, and Mariners. She was a member of the Lincoln Weavers Guild, the American Legion Auxiliary, Stella Chapter #57 Order of the Eastern Star, and the local extension club. Memorials to First Presbyterian Church or Malmo American Legion Post #232.