Martin (Dude) Barr

Martin (Dude) Barr, age 95, passed peacefully on December 26, 2020 to reunite with the love of his life, his wife of 69 years, Joyce (Larson) Barr.  He loved the outdoors, was an avid hunter, and a great family man… and also a very capable trickster, playing practical tricks on anyone he deemed to be his friend.  

Dude was born in Cloquet Minnesota on June 22, 1925, where he grew up and ultimately met his sweetheart Joyce in high school. He played football and basketball in high school and loved to both hunt and fish.

In 1942 at the age of 17, Dude decided to enlist in the Merchant Marines to help serve his country in any way he could.  He would often share with his loving family many stories of his exploits around the world during World War II.  He formed many friendships in the Merchant Marines and stayed in touch with his buddies throughout the years.

After serving his country he came home and earned a degree in Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota, and married Joyce shortly thereafter.  Armed with his new degree, he and his brother Robert opened Barr Brother’s Funeral Home in Cloquet where he served the residents for many years.  Both Dude and Joy loved to travel, meet new friends, and see new places.  Naples was one of their favorite places, as well as their summer home in Thompson, Michigan, where he had many relatives.  Family was very important to Dude; he had a strong faith and passed that on to his family.  After Joyce passed, he lived with his daughter Jennifer and her husband Randy.  His special buddy was their Irish Setter Finn who spent every day by his side.

Dude was preceded in death by his parents Martin and Eva Barr, wife Joyce, and brother Robert.  He is survived by his son Brad (Amy) Barr; daughters Jennifer (Randy) Rimstad, Brenda Barr, and Janice (Scott) Montgomery; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.  He will be greatly missed by all.

A simple graveside service will be held for family on December 30th at Maple Grove Cemetery at 1pm.  Any memorials may be sent to your local hospice. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Martin (Dude) Barr, please visit our floral store.