J. Barry Weldon, Sr. passed away peacefully with his family at his side on August 22, 2024, at age 77. A champion of life, love, and fun, he lived his life to its fullest.
He was born on April 20, 1947, to Robert Donald, Sr. and Joanne (Sala) Weldon in Toledo, OH. Baptized into the Christian faith, he grew up in various cities in Illinois, Ohio, and New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Michigan where he was a proud member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and met his wife of 54 years, Anne. He also graduated with an MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned a graduate degree from Indiana University. He worked in Holland from 1978 until retirement in 2014 as a professor, briefly, at Hope College, a long time CPA, adjunct professor at Aquinas College, and entrepreneur owning Frosty’s, Baskin Robbins, and four local Subway franchises.
The pride of his life were his four sons. He coached all four through the Holland Recreation Department in baseball, soccer, and basketball. Athletes from around the area were impacted by his selfless volunteer coaching for many years and went on to successful high school athletic careers at Holland HS, Holland Christian HS, West Ottawa HS, Zeeland HS, Hamilton HS, Jenison HS, and Grand Haven HS.
He loved his time with his sons on the various fields of play, and the whole family at his beloved properties up north, a lake cottage near Baldwin, MI and condo on Mackinac Island. Christmas and Thanksgiving were his favorite times of the year with all their emphasis on family and connection.
The University of Michigan Wolverines were always a passion, and he created a lifetime of good times and shared memories at football games, national championship games, and basketball games. Barry lived the fullest of lives and leaves his greatest legacy in his wife, his sons, his grandchildren (to whom he was Grampy and Papa), and his impact on many, many other lives throughout his long life.
He is survived by his wife Anne (Biasell); his son J. Barry, Jr. and grandson Ian; his son Seth, daughter-in-law Carrie (Mulder), and grandchildren Alyssa, Leigha, and Easton; his son Adam, daughter-in-law Meredith (Cislo), and grandchildren Carter, Eleanor, and Neil; his son Luke and grandchildren Lincoln and Hunter. He is also survived by his brother Robert and Penny; sister Patty and Tim Gorman; in-laws Tom and Pam Biasell, Jim and Pat Biasell, Lynn Kellogg, and seven nieces and six nephews. Family members who awaited him on his final journey were his parents Robert and Joanne Weldon, brother Bill, parents-in-law Verne and Irene Biasell, and brother-in-law Freeborn Kellogg; and since all dogs go to heaven, several of them are also anxiously awaiting his arrival so that they can run, catch, and play with him once again.
Per his desire, no services will be held publicly, and the family will hold a private interment. Dykstra Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and will have a website for those who wish to send condolences or a kind word to his family. Any who wish to do something in his honor are asked to do as Barry would have done, pay it forward with a kind deed or word to someone in need; a simple smile or hug to brighten someone’s day; a financial donation to a local humane society or animal rescue group; or a financial donation to Appledorn South Courtyard memory care facility or Hospice of Holland and their exceptional staff who made his final months with Alzheimer’s easier, happier, and better.
Forever and always, Go Blue!
Arrangements are by Dykstra Funeral Homes-Mulder Chapel.
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