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Bert Carr

October 8, 1925 - June 10, 2016
Vicksburg, MI

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Visitation

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Plainwell Location
120 South Woodhams Street
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5881
Driving Directions

Service

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
4:00 PM EDT
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Plainwell Location
120 South Woodhams Street
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-5881
Driving Directions

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

River Rose
(269) 692-3951

Plainwell Flowers
117 S. Main
Plainwell, MI 49080
(269) 685-8055
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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All throughout his rich and rewarding life, Bert Carr was an extraordinary man to know and love. He was a man of great courage, strength, and honor who worked hard at everything he did. Bert enjoyed traveling and saw so many of the most beautiful places, but nothing was more near and dear to his heart than being surrounded by his loved ones. With a family that grew to include children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren he leaves behind a timeless legacy that will be carried on his footsteps. Bert will never be forgotten.

The 1920s were an exciting time in America. Innovation was changing the way we lived our everyday lives while the days were highly prosperous. It was during this decade that we welcomed refrigerators and washing machines into our homes while cars that were widely mass produced on assembly lines gave everyday Americans more freedom to explore the world around them. Amidst this exciting time was a time of great excitement in the lives of Davis and Molly (Blackwood) Carr as they were pleased to announce the birth of the baby boy they named Bert on October 8, 1925, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the older of two boys as he was raised in the family home alongside his younger brother, Bill. Bert’s father worked as a barber and farmer while his mother was busy keeping their home in Southern Indiana and raising Bert and his brother.

From an early age Bert was a bustle of activity. He loved reading books - so much so that his mother used to chase him off the front porch with a broom to get him focused on something else. Bert attended local schools including French Lick High School. After graduating in 1943, Bert enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He completed his basic training during the end of WWII in the mid-forties, and he then spent much of his time serving as an aircraft mechanic during the Korean Conflict. Bert joined the National Guard, retiring in 1985.

Not long after returning from Korea, Bert met the woman who would change the course of his life forever. Her name was Carol, and they met through friends on a military base in Minnesota. Neither one was overly impressed when they first met, and Bert was soon transferred to Japan. While there, he did correspond with Carol through letters. He returned stateside around 1952, and the love that had begun to bloom between Bert and Carol continued to blossom. With a desire to establish a life together, the sweethearts were married on November 17, 1956.

Bert and Carol initially lived in Duluth, Minnesota, but they later moved to Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Together they were blessed to welcome three children including LeeAnn, John, and Shelley into their hearts and home. Bert supported his family by working in auto mechanics, and in time they moved one last time - to Vicksburg, Michigan. At times their family hosted three different students from Finland in their home as well. Bert deeply loved his children, however he administered discipline when needed. He always liked and had dogs that were an important part of his life. In 1989, Bert was deeply saddened with the death of his beloved wife. Shortly thereafter, he retired in 1991.

Throughout his life Bert was a man of many interests. He enjoyed traveling and camping, and he frequently combined these two interests. He traveled all the way to Disneyland in California, camping all along the way both there and back despite a 4 day vehicle breakdown, traveling 2 weeks with 3 restless children and getting over the Rocky's to the pacific ocean using primitive paper maps and a Jellystone Campground directory. Bert did some traveling abroad, too, including a trip to Finland. As a motorcycle enthusiast, he took a motorcycle trip to Sturgis for the big rally, and Bert also had a place at Sandy Pines. During his retirement years he spent a lot of time restoring cars, and when it came to music he enjoyed classic country from names such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and others.

With his warm, kindhearted, and genuine personality, Bert Carr was the sort of person who blessed the people he met. He was more quiet and reserved, the type who enjoyed reading and keeping to himself, but the love he had for his family was easy to see. Bert was also well-liked among his neighbors, and his sense of humor was refreshing and inviting. Deeply loved, he will never be forgotten.

Bert Carr, of Vicksburg, passed away on June 10, 2016, at Bronson Hospital. Bert’s family includes his children: LeeAnn (Robert) Knapp, John (Brenda) Carr, Shelley (Trischa) Carr; his brother Bill, brother-in-law Roger and 2 sisters-in-law: Betty and Jackie; 7 grandchildren: Jonathon, Jennifer, Sean, Kendra, Christopher, Collin and Jacob; 3 great grandchildren and one on the way as well as several nieces and nephews. Bert was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Carol; 2 grandchildren: Cory and Carolyn. Visit with his family and friends and view his life story film on Tuesday, June 14 from 3:00 to 4:00 at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 Woodhams St. (685-5881). A memorial service will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the same location. There will be an interment at Ft. Custer National Cemetery at a later date. Please visit Bert’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo and sign his memory book online.

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