Meryl (Giese) Barry

Meryl died on November 12^th, 2019.  She was 94 years old.  She was born in Grand Forks on April 25, 1925, into the family of Adolph and Emma Fuller Giese and was the third of their five children.  Her first years were on the family farm near Euclid, Minnesota. 

Upon graduation from high school in East Grand Forks, Meryl moved to the East coast to seek her fortune.  She took employment with the War Department, serving in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a clerk / typist.  Her career as a civilian member of the military would ultimately span 43 years.  During her tenure, The War Department became the Department of Defense and the Army Air Corps evolved into the US Air Force.  There was constant reorganization and Meryl’s jobs would change to keep up the times.    In 1948, Meryl married Ken Barry. The marriage lasted 12 years.   Most of Meryl’s early career was in the military logistics and transportation fields for both the Army and the Air Force in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.   She earned many citations and awards for excellent work quality and initiative.

Meryl’s nieces and nephews always thought of her as being Pentagon staffer for the Department of the Army, she moved to Northern Virginia in the early 1960’s where she would remain until retirement.  Her niche was in the Army’s awards and decorations office where she reviewed recommendations submitted from throughout the Army and organized high level local ceremonies.  Her own citations and awards for quality service continued and she enjoyed several promotions.  

 Meryl was the consummate aunt.  By the time she retired in 1987, she had accumulated all five of her nieces and nephews.  Although none of us ever lived in the DC area, there were frequent letters and cards and highly anticipated visits. We think she liked to shop because we get boxes of gifts at Christmas:  great numbers of small inexpensive items that were just perfect from a child’s point of view.  She understood us.

After retirement, Meryl moved back to Grand Forks to be near her brothers.  Her extended family had always maintained close contact throughout her career; they were delighted to have her back.  She always loved to travel, and this continued in her retirement years.  By this time her family included grand and great grand nephews and nieces.  Not surprisingly, she continued to great positive example for them too.

Meryl was proceeded in death by her parents, her sisters Shirley and Joan, her brother Boyd, one grand niece and one great grand niece.  She is survived by her brother Conrad, the original five nieces and nephews, six great nephews and nieces, and five great great nephews and nieces.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 19, 2019 in Amundson Funeral Home, Grand Forks.  Visitation will be for the half-hour prior to the service in the funeral home.   Interment will be in St.  Paul's Cemetery, Euclid, Minnesota. 

Memorials are preferred to St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery Fund, Euclid, Minnesota or the UND School of Medicine for Cancer Research.