Barry J. Westerlund

A Celebration of Life for Barry Westerlund of Baudette, MN will be held on Tuesday, May14, 2019 at 11 AM at First Lutheran Church in Baudette.  Visitation will be one hour prior at the church.  Interment will be at Elm Park Cemetery at a later date.  Military honors by the Baudette Veterans Ceremonial Squad.

Barry James Westerlund was born on December 8, 1947, in Warroad, MN, to Chester and Edna (Torgerson) Westerlund. He attended grade school and high school in Baudette, MN, graduating from Baudette High School in 1965. He went on to attend Bemidji State University, playing one year of hockey and graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies Education in 1970. During this time and after graduation he also served in the Army Reserve.

Barry began his teaching career in Nashwauk, MN. He then moved out to Denver, CO in 1972 and lived for several years, enjoying friends and skiing before moving back to the little red cabins on Rainy River by the lake, bartending at the original Wigwam and Sportsman’s Lodge. To many he was known as “Westy.”  He then attended hair dressing school and became the owner of Barry’s Little Hair House on Main Street Baudette, which he owned and operated for the past 42+ years.

Barry met his wife Janelle Anderson, native of Neche, ND, at the KOA Campgrounds, now known as Lake of the Woods Campgrounds. They were happily married on July 12, 1980 at Wabanica Lutheran Church in Baudette, MN. In 1987 he built and became the owner of The Washboard Laundromat on Highway 11 in Baudette.

On May 7, 1992 he had his first and only born son, Joncarlo. He introduced his son Joncarlo to the game of hockey, a love and bond they shared from the first time he laced up his son’s skates to the day of his passing.

In 1993 he volunteered on the Board of the Baudette Area Arena Association, where he served proudly for 25 years, the majority of which he served as President. His last great work came after writing and receiving two Mighty Duck Grants for nearly a half a million dollars and was so happy for the community, retiring thereafter in the spring of 2017. He coached youth hockey in Baudette until 2006, over 20 years of coaching. He founded the Minnesota Mudbugs AAA summer hockey team in 2004 and coached for several years, along with coaching the 92’ Minnesota Northern Blades AAA summer hockey team.

In 2007 he started Barry’s Driving School and has taught drivers education to the community for the past 13 years. He began substitute teaching at Lake of the Woods school in 2007, known as “Mr. Barry,” and thoroughly enjoyed all of the students, staff, and administration for the past 13 years.

His favorite joys in life were travelling around the world with his wife, Janelle, and son, Joncarlo, spending time and fishing at his family cabin, hunting at Slick’s Cabin, and watching his son’s hockey games throughout his career.

Barry is survived by his loving wife, Janelle of Baudette; proud son, Joncarlo of Golden Valley, MN; sisters, Shelley Phillippe of Baudette, and Wendy Hancock of Madison, MN; brother-in-law, Rick (Char) Anderson of Coleharbor, ND; sisters-in-law, Lynne Anderson of Baudette/Mesa, AZ, and Mary Beth (Doug) Olson of Cavalier, ND; and several nieces and nephews.  Barry was preceded in death by his parents, Chet and Edna; brother-in-law John Hancock; nephew Jacob Hancock; father and mother-in-law Ernie and Esther Anderson of Neche, ND.

Barry passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at LakeWood Health Center in Baudette, MN.

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