She attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse. During her middle and high school years, Marg helped in the school lunchroom and provided care to two women battling cancer. She also played volleyball and softball. It was at Valparaiso High School that Marg met the love of her life, Louis Barry, her high school sweetheart.
After graduating, Marg’s first job was in the billing department at Gooch Foods. On August 22, 1959, she and Louis married and settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, where they built a beautiful life together. They were blessed with six children—five daughters and one son—whom Marg dedicated herself to raising as a stay-at-home mom for 20 years. While managing a busy household, she supplemented her family’s income with part-time work, babysitting, ironing, and conducting product demos at local grocery stores. When her youngest child began school, Marg returned to the workforce at JJE Microfilming Company in Lincoln. Through her dedication and hard work, she advanced to the role of office manager. She worked for the company for 27 years.
Marg and Louis lived in Lincoln for 42 years before moving to Louis’s family farm in Valparaiso, where they enjoyed their golden years surrounded by the peace and beauty of rural life.
Marg was a woman of many talents. She had a gift for sewing, crocheting and knitting. A skilled baker, she was known for her delicious runzas, kolaches, cinnamon rolls, and beautifully decorated cakes. Her love for gardening was evident in her vibrant field of zinnias, which she joyfully clipped and shared with anyone who visited her farm.
Beyond her homemaking skills, Marg never missed an opportunity to support her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at their sporting events, music concerts and dance recitals. A passionate fan of the Kansas City Royals, Husker football, and volleyball, she enjoyed cheering on her favorite teams.
One of her pieces of advice was, “When you figure out life isn’t fair, it is so much easier.” She lived by the principles of kindness, respect, and treating others as she would want to be treated. When asked what her greatest accomplishment was, Marg proudly said, “Having raised six children into good and caring adults.”
Marg leaves behind a large and loving family and countless friends and relatives whose lives were touched by her kindness, humor, and generosity. Her legacy will live on through the beautiful memories and values she instilled in everyone she knew.
She will be dearly missed but forever remembered.
She is survived by daughters Cindy (John) Bischoff, Tammy (David) Gushard, Deb (Rob) Vidlock, Karen (Dennis) Broadwell, and Sandra (Kevin) Schlautman; son Michael (Angela) Barry; grandchildren Brandon (Amber) and Danielle Bischoff, Dustin (Jessica) and Dillon Gushard, Connor (Hannah) and Madison Vidlock, Franklin, Michaela, Bailey, and Audrey Broadwell, Allison and Drake Schlautman, Ashley and Sullivan Barry; great grandchildren Burke, Baylor, and Briggs Gushard and Leighton Bischoff; brother Norm, sister Jeri Froschheiser; brother Dan (Marde) Strizek, brother-in-law Jim Kreifels. Preceded in death by her husband Louis Barry, sister Patricia Kreifels and brother-in-law DeWayne Froschheiser.
Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at St. John the Apostle (7601 Vine St. Lincoln, NE, 68505) at 10:00AM.
Visitation with family greeting friends from 5:00-7:00PM concluding with a Rosary at 7:00PM will be held Monday, September 30, 2024, at Roper and Sons South Chapel (3950 Hohensee Dr. Lincoln, NE, 68516).
Memorials to directed to Down Syndrome Association for Families, Alzheimer’s Association, or St. John’s Catholic Church.
Link to Service Recording: