Donald Lee Barriger Obituary
Donald Lee Barriger Jr., 74, of Hartsville, IN, passed away at Columbus Regional Hospital on December 29, 2023, after a brief illness, with his beloved and loving wife of almost 22 years, Dianne, by his side.. Don was diagnosed with a metastasized (Stage 4) cancer on December 5; he had had no prior symptoms.
Don was born in Columbus, IN on September 6, 1949, the first child of Donald Lee Barriger Sr. and the former Dorothy Mae Bennett. His sister, Melody joined the family a couple of years later. After his parents' divorce, Don lived with his mother, sister and later siblings. Much time during his early childhood and youth was spent with his grandparents, Earl and Effie Bennett, at their home on 2nd Street. Earl was a blacksmith and taught Don many skills of his trade.
At the age of 16, Don moved to Hope, IN to live with his father and stepmother, Mae Weddle nee Ault, his brother Brad, and step brothers Davey and Bobby Weddle. He spent the next few years enjoying the farm life around Hope and was heavily involved in and a leader in his local FFA chapter at Hauser Jr-Sr High School, winning many awards and serving in officer positions. On graduation in 1968, he was accepted by Purdue University to study veterinary medicine but chose instead – on the spur of the moment - to volunteer for the US Army. This was at the height of the Vietnam War era, and Don was a fiercely proud and patriotic young man who desperately wanted to serve his country. He served it well for his entire life.
Don volunteered 7 times to serve in combat in Vietnam but, each time, his requests were denied. Finally, he was offered an overseas posting in Korea, which he accepted without hesitation. There, he met his first wife, Kim Kum Sun, 13 years older than he. They were unable to have children and chose to adopt a young brother and sister while based in Korea. In late 1986, Kim passed away suddenly and Don and the children were repatriated by the Army back to the USA. Don was assigned to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, where he was the Military Liaison to the Southern Indiana District Court (working for the late Judge Endsley) and also worked as a Criminal Intelligence NCO, tasked to develop an automated data processing system and framework to link the District US Army CICO, Interpol, the FBI, CIA and the US District Court.
Don served 20 years in the Army, until his honorable discharge and retirement as a First Sergeant (E-8) in June 1988. For more than half of those years he held overseas assignments in Korea and Germany, in various MOS's, including Huey helicopter repairman, crew chief and door gunner, legal clerk in JAG, personnel clerk, and reenlistment NCO. He was also selected in 1971 for a special research and development project south of the DMZ, involving the Joint UN Command - Korea, US Forces - Korea and USAID. In 1977, he presented a two-hour speech on his work, in Korean, to the National Future Farmers of Korea Convention and was privileged to be granted a brief audience with then President Park Chung Hee.
He was the recipient of many military awards and honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (3 awards), Good Conduct Medal (6 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3 awards), and the NCO Professional Development Ribbon ('V').
After retirement, Don sought work in his local area but, like many returned servicemen of that era, found that offers of steady fulltime work were hard to come by. Undaunted, he opened a gunsmith shop near his home in Brown County IN. He was a qualified and federally licensed gunsmith, who performed his work meticulously. He later worked in many part-time jobs, including as a County-registered residential electrician and carpenter/ builder, woodworker, share cropper, pastrycook and baker, deer processor (BOAH approved), and toolmaker/ driver. His entrepreneurial spirit and lifelong interest in the care, protection and preservation of native wildlife also led him to become a part-time State-licensed nuisance wildlife control officer in the late 1990s (for which he had academic qualifications and training), although he was only able to do this for a short time as serious health problems derived from his Army service began to manifest themselves.
Don was married three more times, first to Beverley Martin nee Fiesbeck (1947-1999) for just over 12 years. For 5 years of these, (1994-1998), Don was Beverley's fulltime caregiver as her health declined from the cumulative effects of Type 1 diabetes. He then married briefly, to their mutual friend, Peggy Daily, in 1999 (The marriage ended in divorce). Finally, on September 1, 2000, Don met his present wife and soulmate, Dianne, from Australia, in an Internet chat room. Their online friendship across two continents evolved into an unbreakable bond and lifelong loving partnership, despite many challenges. Together they were a living example of the saying that 'love conquers all' and of the infinite power of love.
In late 2002, Don was granted full disability by the Veterans' Administration. For several years thereafter, he was evaluated and treated for a range of serious medical problems, while trying to keep living as normal a life as possible. Eventually, his situation stabilized and he was able to try to get back in touch with his local community and issues that interested and concerned him. He took the view that since he was now being supported by the state, he had an obligation to give back to his community as much as he could. Dianne agreed and helped him in any way she could. '
'Volunteerism' became the buzzword and focus of their lives together, along with raising Dianne's daughter Kim. In 2008 and again in 2015-16, Don and his wife gave shelter and other support to local friends made homeless by flooding events. Don also volunteered as a member, office bearer and/or director of several organizations, including the Brown County Community Foundation's Scholarship Committee (2012 -2015), Leadership Brown County (2012 – 2015), and the Brown County Community Corrections Advisory Board (2012 - 2023). He also became a VA-certified volunteer PTSD counselor and the Service Officer for the local VFW in Nashville, IN. For many years, he was a volunteer Judge for competitions at the annual National FFA Convention. In early 2016, Don and Dianne established a local FFA alumni group in Bartholomew County, IN. During that year, they also became connected, through an old school friend of Don's, with the 95th Infantry Division Association and the legendary Iron Men of Metz. For the next 8 years, until shortly before his passing, Don and Dianne worked as a team to research and prepare nominations of surviving members of the Division and allied units for the French Legion of Honor medal. All eligible nominees were approved; one remains pending. This, to Don, was the greatest achievement of his life. His final contribution, from March 2023 until his passing, was as an appointed member (Democratic Party) of the Town Council in Hartsville IN, where he and his wife lived since late 2014.
In addition to his wife, Don leaves behind several adult children, grandchildren and a great grandson.. Although he had no biological children of his own, he was "Dad' to two adopted children - Kathy Lozzi and Raymond Barriger - and four stepdaughters - Lori Hamm; Samantha (Michael) Duque; Belinda Fong, and Kimberley (Marcus) El. He was 'Pop' to 8 grandchildren - Jade Fencher Poole, Stacey and Tara Hamm; Harrison, William and Henry Duque; and Jaxon and Kamryn El - and a great grandson, Alexander Poole. He was 'Uncle Don' to several nieces and nephews. Surviving siblings are Brad (Leanne) Barriger, Melody Harmon nee Barriger, Jonnette (Michael) Robinson nee Lang, Scott (Lisa) Bringle, Earlene Dewar nee Bringle and Davey (Brenda) Weddle
Don was predeceased by his first wife, Kim, his second wife, Beverly, his third wife, Peggy; his parents, his stepmother, Mae, his stepfathers, Ray Lang, Victor Bringle, Don Johnson, and Norris Renner; his sister, Eunice Tays nee Bringle, and her husband, Jesse Tays Jr; as well as a niece and several cousins and stepsiblings.
Don lived through many changes and challenges in his lifetime. He tackled adversity with a strong faith and a positive approach, and never gave up. He was generous, kind, caring, often funny, humble, and – despite his many disabilities and until illness wore him down – was always on the go, ebullient and effervescent. His favorite pastime from 2015, and a source of regular exercise and healthy food for the table, was developing the garden and a small orchard at his home in Hartsville with his wife. He loved telling stories and always had a story to tell. Don loved from his heart and soul, unreservedly, without hesitation or discrimination, and believed firmly and passionately that all people are born equal and should be treated equal, with respect and compassion, regardless of their status in life, color or creed, and whether rich or poor. He had countless cherished friends, from every period in his life, with whom he maintained contact and friendship. He was a loyal and devoted husband, father, brother, 'Pop' and 'Uncle Don' and gave of himself to all who needed help. Most importantly, to him, he loved his brothers and sisters in the military and he loved his country. He was a great soldier, warrior and patriot.
A memorial service and celebration of Don's life will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 2:30PM to 4:30PM at Norman Funeral Home, 604 Main Street, Hope, IN 47246. All who knew Don are welcome and invited to attend.
Donations in Don's memory may be made to the 95th Infantry Division Legacy Association, the National Wildlife Federation, a Humane Society of your choice, or to the American Cancer Society.
