Stanley Barr 03/10/2024

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Stanley William Barr, aged 91, of New Richmond, Wisconsin, who passed away on March 10, 2024. Stan was a teacher and mentor to many and a friend to all.
Stan was born on October 24, 1932, in Lancaster, Wisconsin. He graduated from Bagley High School in Bagley, Wisconsin in 1950, and attended Winona State Teachers College. While there he met Donna Pederson, the love of his life. They married in September 1953. Over the next thirty years Donna and Stan raised five children. After graduating with a degree in Physical Education and History in 1954, Stan served in the Army as a medic for two years before starting his first job as a teacher in 1957. He spent the next 35 years teaching, coaching and mentoring students.
Stan taught in Rushford, Minnesota; Mineral Point, Wisconsin; and Monroe, Wisconsin; before moving to New Richmond in 1965. He primarily taught social studies, physical education, and driver’s education before earning a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Stout State University in 1968. He was the first guidance counselor at New Richmond Junior High (later Middle) School. He moved up to the high school in 1974 and was a guidance counselor there until his retirement in 1991.
In addition to teaching and counseling, Stan was very involved in the schools’ athletic programs. He coached in Mineral Point and Monroe before moving to New Richmond, where he was varsity track and field coach for 25 years, JV and assistant varsity football coach for 20 years, cross-country coach for four years, wrestling coach for three years, and a wrestling referee for eleven years. Stan was also New Richmond’s Athletic and Activities Director from 1974 to 1991. Stan attended the Wisconsin state track and field meet from 1958 to 2016, missing only in 1996. When he was no longer attending as a coach, he officiated at the meets. Stan’s track teams won the state championship in 1961 and 1982. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Coaches Hall of Fame in 2007 and was in the inaugural induction into the New Richmond High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. He still attended games until a few weeks ago and when he couldn’t attend, he listened to them from home. He enthusiastically discussed the teams and their players, rooting for them until the end. Stan remained in touch with many of his athletes, some of whom had graduated more than fifty years ago.
Stan was involved in many non-school related activities. He was a member of Jaycees for twelve years and ran their junior champ program for those twelve years, eight of them in New Richmond. He also served for one year as the state junior champ chairman. He was a member of Kiwanis from 1973 until his death. He was a member of the American Legion beginning in 2004. Stan was on the New Richmond Park Board from 1966 to 1991 and was instrumental in starting the recreation classes available through the park service. He coached the Giants Little League team for fifteen years, serving as Little League president for two years. Stan was a member of First Lutheran Church in New Richmond since 1965 and spent many hours volunteering at the church.
After retiring, Stan and Donna spent fifteen winters in Mission, TX, where Stan worked at the local high school’s track and field meets. He and Donna also played Santa and Mrs. Claus for the grandchildren of their fellow residents in their retirement community and helped organize the annual Citrus Parade.
Stan belonged to the local fitness club and could be seen there every weekday at the crack of dawn, working out on the machines and doing floor exercises. He loved to golf and was out on the course as much as possible; he hit a hole-in-one on two separate occasions in the last twenty years.
After retiring, Donna became interested in crafts and Stan helped her at craft fairs, along with making his own wood craft items to sell. Donna and Stan loved to travel around the U. S., visiting their children and grandchildren, hiking and camping. When they were in Texas, they joined tour groups and explored Mexico. One of their favorite trips was a cruise to Alaska with friends from New Richmond. For many years after retiring, Stan could be found around town every morning at 8:30, having coffee with his many groups of friends.
Donna lived her last seven years at St. Croix Health Center and Stan became a fixture there as he visited her twice every day to spend lunch and dinner with her. He often said that she was the love of his life and it was very hard on him when she left him behind. After Donna’s death Stan’s family grew again and he took great pride and joy in his ten great-grandchildren.
Stan is survived by four of his children: Craig (Kathy) Barr, Terry (Irina) Barr, Kellie (Paul) Nuber, and Brian (Jill) Barr; ten grandchildren: Alyssa (Bruce) DeHaan, Amy (Joe) Grady, Amber Barr, Christopher Barr, Julia Barr (Justin Vaughn), Ian (Whitney) Nuber, Nathan Nuber, Bryce (Martha) Hart, Tanner Trace and Cassidy Trace; and ten great-grandchildren: Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin, and Simon DeHaan; Clayton, Cooper, Cashton, Corbin, and Callie Grady; and Tristan Nuber. He is also survived by his brother Larry Barr and his sister Doris Williams, and many nieces and nephews.
Stan is preceded in death by his wife Donna, daughter Michelle Trace, grandson Alexander Nuber, his parents Ellsworth and Elsie Barr, and his siblings Jean Burns, Dorothy Schaeffer, Maxine Barr, Charlotte Caley, Burnell Barr, Donald Barr, Robert Barr, and Chester Barr.
Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Bakken-Young Funeral and Cremation Services (728 S. Knowles Ave, New Richmond). A Celebration of Life was held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church (218 County Road K, New Richmond), with visitation starting at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ‘School District of New Richmond’ for the Stanley and Donna Barr Memorial Scholarship Fund. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Stan’s service