Barry G. Moeke

Barry G. Moeke, 76, of Mancelona, passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at the Sparrow Hospice House in Lansing, MI. Barry was born on May 1, 1947, in Grayling, MI, the son of George and Maureen Moeke.

Barry was a trusted businessman with a work ethic that was unmatched. He loved his family deeply and instilled that work ethic in all three of his children and his grandchildren. In 1951, Barry moved from Elmira to Mancelona when his father and grandfather set up a permanent sawmill on the old Antrim Iron Works Company site. He graduated from Mancelona High School in 1965. He attended Central Michigan University for a semester then moved north to L’Anse, Michigan to obtain a specialty degree from the Ford Forestry Center, a branch of Michigan Tech University.

On July 30, 1966, he married his childhood sweetheart, Ann Weiser. They were married 47 years when Ann passed in 2013. From his youth until his retirement, Barry’s life revolved around the sawmill. He worked for his father until George retired in 1974 and sold the mill to a steel company out of Detroit. In 1986, the mill was sold again to an automotive company. Barry and his brothers managed the mill throughout these inflationary times when the owners were mostly interested in manufacturing lower grade pallet lumber. In 1989, with much heart-felt effort, determination, sacrifices, and savings, Barry, Ann, and his youngest brother George purchased the mill back. The purchase brought the mill back into the family as fourth generation of proud owners of a Moeke family lumber business, Moeke Brothers Lumber, Incorporated. Barry, Ann, and George carried on the reputation for trust and quality built by their father and continued to do business with many of his quality hard wood lumber customers in the flooring and furniture industry.

Barry’s love of his family was sincere. He and Ann raised Amy, Mike, and Pam in Mancelona, the same small town where they grew up. Barry’s 8 grandchildren are what brought him true pride and joy. He was a man of few words, but a man whose heart was filled with love.

Barry is survived by daughters Amy (David) Derrer and Pamela (Robert) McIntosh; siblings AJ (Judy) Moeke, George (Ginny) Moeke, and Mary Jo (Harvey) Smith; grandchildren Braedon and Drew Moeke, Wyatt, Kallie, Cody, and Garrett Derrer, and Annie and Tommy McIntosh. He was preceded in death by his wife Ann Moeke, son Michael Moeke, granddaughters Kay Lynn and Ann Marie Derrer, parents Maureen and George Moeke, brother Thomas Gocha, and nephew John Moeke.

A Graveside Service will be held Saturday, July 1, at 1:00 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Mancelona. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you plant a tree in his memory. Memorial contributions may be made to Mancelona Public Schools, Stadium Project, 112 St John’s Ave, Mancelona, MI 49659.

The family is being served by the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.