Truman Fredrick Barbier Jr.

Truman Fredrick Barbier Jr. died Friday, March 26, 2010, at his home in East Tawas.
He was a passionate gentleman of optimism, generosity and integrity who enjoyed a fun life with family and friends.
Born the eldest of three children in Detroit on Jan. 21, 1926, to Margaret Y. and Truman F. Barbier, he leaves siblings, Jane (Roland 'Skip') Dulmage of Stuart, Fla., and Jim (Jacque, deceased) Barbier of Midland.
As a boy, he spent summers at Camp Chikopi and worked for Ford Motor Company at the 1940 New York Worlds Fair. He attended Edison Institute (now known as Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village) and, upon graduation, enlisted with the Navy. He received training in Great Lakes, Illinois, and in 1945 sailed out of San Diego on the USS Duxbury Bay with stops to Pearl Harbor, Japan and China, returning in 1946.
After the war, he attended Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now Michigan Technological University) and joined the Air Force ROTC. While at college, he met the love of his life and companion for 59 years, Phylis Ann Crescenzo of Duluth, Minn., his 'Sapphire.'
Phylis predeceased Truman May 11, 2008, and is survived by one brother, Peter Crescenzo of Tucson, Ariz. They married Sept. 4, 1948, and began their family.
Upon receiving his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering, the fledgling family moved to Detroit in 1950 and continued to grow to four, Margaret L. Barbier (David Breskin) of Seattle, Wash., Truman F. Barbier III of St. Johns, U.S. Virgin Islands, Peter J. Barbier (Chiara Barbier) of Whittemore and Mary K. Rafferty (Greg Rafferty) of Williamsburg, Va.
An entrepreneur from the beginning, he started a tractor dealership with his brother-in-law, Skip, then a contracting business he owned solely which led to an opportunity to buy an oil jobbership in East Tawas. In 1957, the family put down roots in this beautiful lakeside community, where Truman also started an Oldsmobile dealership. In 1982, he sold the dealership and finished his career in the gasoline and fuel oil retail business. He had energy and belief in his ideas and the abilities of others that was demonstrated in the help and time he gave to his friends and community. Always with an indomitable spirit, he continually attempted the seemingly impossible, and succeeded.
Truman was actively involved in his children's and grandchildren's lives, teaching them his passions of skiing, sailing, hunting and mechanics. He leaves six grandchildren, Katherine Benn, Thomas Barbier, Madeline Bres­kin, Megan Rafferty, Marjorie Barbier and Nicole Barbier; and one great-grandchild, Catherine Benn.
He was a flying enthusiast as well as a fisherman who enjoyed deep sea fishing while wintering in Hobe Sound, Fla. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and attended Holy Family Catholic Church.
In addition to his family, Truman was blessed to have four incredible women that took exceptional care of him in his late years and helped him to stay actively involved and continue his zest for life, Tammy VanSumeren, Jenny Bruning, Becky French and Winnie Steele.
Above all, Truman was caring and passionate in all of his endeavors. He was a man who excelled at the art of living life to the fullest.
There will be a funeral Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church, 516 West Lincoln, East Tawas, at 11 a.m. Friday, April 23. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Hospice, 220 Beech St., Tawas City, MI 48764-0659. An on-line guest registry is available at www.bureshfuneralhomes.com.