Girl Scout leader, conservationist and civic activist
Kathryn M. Barry, a long time resident of Monroe Wisconsin, died on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at the Hospice Care center in Madison. She was 93 and had celebrated her 68th wedding anniversary in May with her beloved husband, Dr. George R. Barry. After spending 56 years in Monroe Wisconsin, Kay and George moved to Oakwood Village in Madison where they have resided since 2005.
Kay was born in Chicago, the daughter of Elfie and James MacLennan, recent immigrants from Canada. Active in the Girl Scouts at an early age, Kay went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Chicago in 1939 with a degree in Food and Nutrition. As the top female student in her class, she was selected to serve as the Senior Aide to Robert Maynard Hutchins, the President of the University. She met her future husband, George Barry, a pre-medicine student, in their freshman chemistry class and the two were married in 1942. Kay worked and taught as a dietician at the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois College of Medicine while George finished his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.
In 1948, they moved to Monroe, Wisconsin where George practiced internal medicine at the Monroe Clinic. During the 56 years that they lived in Monroe, Kay's volunteer and public service was a mainstay of the community in a variety of areas. She served as a local Girl Scout leader for 35 years and eventually served as the President of the local Girl Scout Council. She was a member of the Monroe Parks and Recreation Board for more than 20 years and was a strong supporter and patron of the Monroe Arts Center, the Monroe Behring Senior Center and the Green County Family YMCA. An avid outdoorswoman, bird watcher and canoeist, Kay's real passion late in life was the restoration of Wisconsin's native prairies. A charter member of the non-profit organization, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Kay was responsible for persuading the city of Monroe to create a native prairie park on the west side of Monroe, a park subsequently named after Kay and George Barry.
Kay is survived by her husband, George R. Barry of Madison WI; her four children, Jan Studesville of Madison WI, Rick Barry of Middleton, WI, Don Barry of Alexandria, VA, and Carol Bloom of LaCrosse, WI; her two grandchildren, Erica Barry of Madison WI, and Eric Studesville of Lone Tree, CO; one great-granddaughter, Sydni Studesville of Lone Tree, CO; and three nephews and one niece and six grand nieces and nephews in the Chicago area. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Marjorie Clinkman of Oaklawn, IL.
The Barry family would like to extend its deepest thanks and appreciation for the wonderful caring staff at Oakwood Village and Hospice Care Inc in Madison. Their compassion and understanding assisted the Barry family tremendously during this difficult transition in their lives.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, at the Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral home in Monroe, Wisconsin. A memorial service will also be held at Oakwood Village in Madison in September. In lieu of flowers, the Barry family has asked that friends wishing to make a memorial donation in Kay Barry's name send their donations to either: Hospice Care Inc. in Madison WI; The Prairie Bluff Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts in Madison WI; or to the Monroe Arts Center, the Monroe Behring Senior Center, or the Green County Family YMCA, all in Monroe, WI.
Kathryn M. Barry, a long time resident of Monroe Wisconsin, died on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at the Hospice Care center in Madison. She was 93 and had celebrated her 68th wedding anniversary in May with her beloved husband, Dr. George R. Barry. After spending 56 years in Monroe Wisconsin, Kay and George moved to Oakwood Village in Madison where they have resided since 2005.
Kay was born in Chicago, the daughter of Elfie and James MacLennan, recent immigrants from Canada. Active in the Girl Scouts at an early age, Kay went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Chicago in 1939 with a degree in Food and Nutrition. As the top female student in her class, she was selected to serve as the Senior Aide to Robert Maynard Hutchins, the President of the University. She met her future husband, George Barry, a pre-medicine student, in their freshman chemistry class and the two were married in 1942. Kay worked and taught as a dietician at the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois College of Medicine while George finished his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.
In 1948, they moved to Monroe, Wisconsin where George practiced internal medicine at the Monroe Clinic. During the 56 years that they lived in Monroe, Kay's volunteer and public service was a mainstay of the community in a variety of areas. She served as a local Girl Scout leader for 35 years and eventually served as the President of the local Girl Scout Council. She was a member of the Monroe Parks and Recreation Board for more than 20 years and was a strong supporter and patron of the Monroe Arts Center, the Monroe Behring Senior Center and the Green County Family YMCA. An avid outdoorswoman, bird watcher and canoeist, Kay's real passion late in life was the restoration of Wisconsin's native prairies. A charter member of the non-profit organization, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Kay was responsible for persuading the city of Monroe to create a native prairie park on the west side of Monroe, a park subsequently named after Kay and George Barry.
Kay is survived by her husband, George R. Barry of Madison WI; her four children, Jan Studesville of Madison WI, Rick Barry of Middleton, WI, Don Barry of Alexandria, VA, and Carol Bloom of LaCrosse, WI; her two grandchildren, Erica Barry of Madison WI, and Eric Studesville of Lone Tree, CO; one great-granddaughter, Sydni Studesville of Lone Tree, CO; and three nephews and one niece and six grand nieces and nephews in the Chicago area. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Marjorie Clinkman of Oaklawn, IL.
The Barry family would like to extend its deepest thanks and appreciation for the wonderful caring staff at Oakwood Village and Hospice Care Inc in Madison. Their compassion and understanding assisted the Barry family tremendously during this difficult transition in their lives.
Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, at the Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral home in Monroe, Wisconsin. A memorial service will also be held at Oakwood Village in Madison in September. In lieu of flowers, the Barry family has asked that friends wishing to make a memorial donation in Kay Barry's name send their donations to either: Hospice Care Inc. in Madison WI; The Prairie Bluff Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts in Madison WI; or to the Monroe Arts Center, the Monroe Behring Senior Center, or the Green County Family YMCA, all in Monroe, WI.