Maurice "Morry" Barka

Maurice “Morry” Barka, age 86, passed away peacefully at AngelsGrace on January 19, 2024.

Dad was born at home in Valley Junction, Wisconsin on October 2, 1937 to Leora (Parr) and Roy Barka. He was the youngest of four and the only son.

Dad, Morry to most of you, was raised on a farm in northern Wisconsin. At age 6, he was already milking cows before and after school. Eventually, whatever needed fixing on the farm, Dad and Grandpa fixed it. Neither had any formal training, just innate mechanical reasoning. This skill would later become a lifelong career for Dad.

Dad graduated from Fairchild High in June of 1955. The day he turned 18, Dad moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin to carve out a life for himself. He tried factory work with some of his Fairchild friends, but factory work wasn’t for him, so he started working for Wolf Paving. Through that job, he met and eventually married Mary Jane Patsch in April of 1961. Dad often told folks he was no prize husband, but he got four great kids from that marriage – Susan (Dino) Fairchild, Meryl (Troy) Newman – grandchildren Payton and Ashley, Jo-ell Carson – grandchildren Julia and Jonah, and Erick (Melanie) Barka – grandchildren Addison and Blake. We’ve all heard statements like that from Dad; he was a man that quietly celebrated his victories and owned every one of his mistakes.

Working on cars was what Dad loved most so he took a job with Jerry Barningham as a mechanic. This job led them to start a salvage business together in Random Lake, WI. In 1976, Dad bought Jerry out, moved the business to Ixonia on Highway 16 and named it Morry’s Auto and Truck Salvage. He owned and operated the salvage yard for nearly 30 years before his first “retirement”. He then drove truck for the United States Post Office, Bimbo’s and Butterfield until they retired him at the age of 80.

These last 6 years, he could be found putting together fitness equipment in Florida, buying, fixing and eventually selling (or giving away) snow blowers, lawnmowers, cars, trucks, and scooters. He was never too busy to visit with friends or complete strangers. We were all together as a family this last Thanksgiving and had a weekend with extended family before traveling to Florida for Christmas.

Dad flew back from Florida on December 30th and had a large stroke. Most people never get to see the footprint they leave but our dad did. His room was busy with visitors telling stories and keeping him company nearly every day.

On Dad’s final day, his pastor gathered us in a circle to hold hands with Dad as Pastor led us in prayer. As Pastor ended the prayer, Dad took his final breath and went home to his Heavenly Father. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Dad is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Leora Barka, his sister Donna Lahn, and brothers-in-law Verlyn “Pete” Pederson, Jim Trachsel and Leonard Lahn.

Dad is survived by his children and grandchildren; along with his sisters Doris Pederson and Darleen Trachsel.

In lieu of flowers, donations to AngelsGrace in Morry’s name are appreciated.

A visitation will take place on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at Pagenkopf Funeral Home (NEW LOCATION: 2228 N. Silver Maple Lane, Oconomowoc, WI 53066) from 1:00pm-2:00pm with a service to follow. The family invites you to join them for Dad’s favorite Sunday lunch in the banquet room following the service.