Fredrick Leo Barker, Sr.

Age 67 was born October 30, 1944 in Carson City to Geraldine (Wright) and William Barker, and passed away peacefully on April 5, 2012 at his home. He was currently of East Lansing, Michigan.

Fred graduated from Lake Odessa High School and Northwood Institute. Fred served in the U.S. Marines and returned home from Vietnam as a decorated Veteran and with a Purple Heart. He retired from General Motors in 1997. Fred enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, telling an epic story, time with his family, good food and fun. He was a man if you knew him for a minute then you had a friend for life. He was a man who always found the silver lining in all that life had to give. A day would not go by without it being filled with his laughter. Most importantly he was a loving DAD, Husband, Brother and Uncle. He will be greatly missed. He was a member of the Liederkranz, the Mecosta Rod and Gun Club and the Okemos Sportsman Club and avid U of M fan.

Fred was predeceased by his Father, William; and Mother, Geraldine; and Brother, Donald. He is survived by his loving wife, Carole; Son, Fredrick, Jr.; Daughters, Jennifer and Billi and Grandson, Maksim; Brothers, Bill, Chuck, Tom; and Sisters, Emilene and Mary Jean.

There will be a private memorial service for friends and family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 330 1/2 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003, or Capital Area Humane Society, 7095 West Grand River Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906 in memory of Fredrick Barker.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.EstesLeadley.com.

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12 Messages to “Fredrick Leo Barker, Sr.

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Karie (David) Hilley
April 6, 2012 at 1:28 pm

Fred,
Sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. Thoughts are with you and your family.

Reply
Dan Roy
April 6, 2012 at 10:20 pm

Billi and Family, I am sorry to hear of Fred’s passing.
– Dan Roy, Ottawa, Canada

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Judy Wilbur Craig
April 6, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Billi,
I am so sorry for you loss! Upon reading your Dad’s loving obituary, your spirit was inherited from him.
Thinking of you and your family….
Judy

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David Lane
April 7, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Billi, so sorry to hear of the sudden loss of your Dad. My thoughts are with you and your family.

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Michael Lambke
April 7, 2012 at 2:01 pm

My thoughts are with you and your family Billi. You have certainly carried forth several of you father’s strengths! We here thank your father for your presence in our community.

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PAT DRAKE
April 8, 2012 at 6:07 am

Jennifer, Sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. My thoughts are with
you and your family.

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PAT DRAKE
April 8, 2012 at 6:09 am

Mary, Sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. My thoughts are with
you and your family.

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Chris Ralph
April 8, 2012 at 11:01 am

Carol, we are so sorry for your loss. My Dad, Francis and all of his family would like you to know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. Dad still talks about Fred a lot and loved having you both as neighbors at the lake. May all your memories ease your sorrow. Golf on Fred, Golf on!!!

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Debbie (Keel) Hansen
April 8, 2012 at 3:57 pm

Carole,
So very sorry for your loss. May you memories and loving family help and support you in the day to come. You are in my thoughts and prayers at this time.

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Mike Behler
April 9, 2012 at 10:40 am

To the Barker Family. So sorry to hear of Freds passing. I will miss him.

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Mary
April 9, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Fred was a very special man. He was a Great brother, he genually cared about and loved us all. He was a wonderful, caring and loving husband to Carole (who has been a blessing in his life) and oh how he loved his children. My heart is full of loss and saddness. He wanted us all to be okay with this but that’s not happening. Our world will not be as bright with him gone. Not to have him to converse with and laugh with seems unbearable to me right now. All who knew and loved him know what I am talking about. I’m going to miss you dear brother. I was very blessed to be your sister. I Love You Fred

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Nephew Tom
April 11, 2012 at 9:13 pm

I looked up to my uncle Fred for the many traits, abilities, and acts of kindness that he possessed. He touched us all by his unmatchable humour, his artistic way of telling stories, his craftiness, his innate approach to tackle and attempt to fix anything around the house – some of those jobs fred got carried away and was to deep and had to succumb to calling plumbers, electricians, and contractors. I had the priveledge of working at their cottage as well as their home over the past 2 years. As I write this and reflect on that time, I can not help to be overtaken emotionally. Whether it was over a cold beer and a sandwich Carol had timely preparred for us, or teaching me different alignments and techniques to improve my golf swing, or patrolling around the lake on the pantoon, or while I was entreached in fixing a buried electric line he rotatilled in half, or while we were struggling to put together a shower/spa unit fitted for a taller bathroom complete with japanesse instructions. No matter what we were doing, nor how stressful the job was becoming, FRed would enlighten the air with BS and go off on tangents unrelated to what were working on. Ultimately concluding with me laughing so hard i had to stop, and with that another cold miller lite to collect our thoughts and strategize our next approach to the job. He was a beloved U of M fan, so much he painted his sewer pipes in his bathroom maize and blue.
I speak only a microcosm of the experiences and memories of Fred. I can only imagine the loss that his wife Carol, brothers Bill, Chuck, and Tom, sisters Emiline and my mom Mary, and Son Freddy and Daughter Billie Joel are coping with. My mom looked up to Fred, admired him, and developed a bond greater than siblings, but that of dearest friend. It pains me to see her hurt. But simultaneously I feel blessed that such a good man with so much heart, laughter, ambition, and a zest for life – was in our lives! You will be forever missed Uncle Fred, and Always remembered as truely ” One of a Kind “. Love You Tommy

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