Max Barr

Max Barr, 65, of Ellsworth, died Monday, February 18, 2008 at his home. He was born July 22, 1942 in Oelwein, Iowa to John and Marjorie (Volker) Barr and graduated from high school there in 1960. He worked for the railroad in Iowa and then moved to St. Paul where he worked for North Star Steel for 37 years, retiring in 2004. He married Donna (Patraw) Swanson on November 5, 1991 in Las Vegas and they lived in Lake St.Croix Beach before moving to Ellsworth in 2003. A member of St. Croix Valley Riders and Afton Alps Golf Club, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Ellsworth; 7 children, Teena (Lynn) Larson of Roberts, Wis., Jacki (Jon) Ness of Jacksonville, Fla., Jill (Gary) Schmidgall of Cannon Falls, Tammy (Jim) Le Claire of Double Oak, Texas, Teresa (Mike) Kohlnhofer of Goodhue, Steve (Judy) Yarrington of Hastings and Jim Swanson of Hudson, Wis.; step-mother, Virginia Barr of Shawnee, Kansas; brother, Terry (Nancy) Barr of Freeport, Ill.; sister, Sandy (Michael) Crowley of Eugene, Ore.; 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, John Barr.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel with Reverend Chad Kohlmeyer officiating. Pallbearers will be LeRoy Schmidt, Bill Burke, Tom Hursey, Tom Hiam, Bill Rutherford, Garry Martin and Mark Sokolik. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the service. Memorials preferred to donor's choice.