We regret to advise of the unexpected death of Maj Gerald Leroy "Jerry" Barr OMM, CD (Ret’d) in Stony Plain at Bradenton, Florida on 20 January 2023 at age 83 years.
Jerry joined the Royal Canadian Engineers with the Fifth Intake of the Sapper Apprentices in 1956 and served a very full career of 38 years with the Canadian Military Engineers. As a Sapper, Jerry served in 3 Field Squadron, 4 Field Squadron, the School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC and then back to Germany. He was Commissioned from the Ranks from the rank of Sergeant in 1969.
As a Military Engineering Officer, served broadly in Canada and also deployed on three tours with the United Nations. His first posting as an officer was as an instructor at Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC. This was followed by a tour as a Regular Support Staff Officer with 8th Field Engineer Regiment in Edmonton followed by a posting with the Base Construction Engineering Office at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton AB. Jerry was subsequently appointed the Base Construction Engineering Officer at Petawawa ON, followed by a tour as the Base Technical Services Officer at Canadian Forces Base Moncton NB. Jerry then became the Senior Staff Officer Construction Engineering for Canadian Forces Communication Command Headquarters. Jerry’s last appointment was as Station Commander at Dundurn SK.
One of Jerry’s career highlights included his being the Project Commander in 1971 for the construction of the 360-foot Highway Ogilvie River Bridge on the Dempster Highway, 160 miles north of Dawson City YT. Jerry was also the Force Engineer for Operation MORNING LIGHT, the clean-up of the radioactive debris after the Russian Satellite Kosmos 954 reentered the Earth's atmosphere in the North West Territories in 1978. His contributions to the Canadian Forces were recognized by the award of the Order of Military Merit in 1987.
Jerry's colleagues will remember his love of curling and participation in the Pigspeils. Veterans will have benefitted from his many years of dedication to the work of the Last Post Fund.
A Celebration of Life for Jerry Barr will be held on 6 May 2023, 1:00 pm at the St. Albert Legion Branch 271 { 6 Tache St, St. Albert, AB}. A Legion Honour Guard will be present and military veterans attending may wear their blazer with medals if they so desire. Those who cannot personally attend are encouraged to write a few words about their military and/or personal time with Jerry, serious or humorous anecdotes, etc and submit them by the end of April at the latest to Ralph Gienow who will read the comments at the ceremony.
