Thomas "Tom" Joseph Barrett

Thomas Joseph Barrett was born on November 19, 1927 in Murdock, Minnesota to Agnes and Earl Barrett. He was the 3rd oldest of 9 children. He lived in Murdock till he was 17 when he enlisted in the Navy during World War 2. He was a seaman 1st class; his ship was part of the atom bomb testing on Bikini atoll.  
Upon discharge from the Navy, he returned to Murdock where he courted his neighbor Laura Acker. They were married in Willmar, Minnesota on April 22nd 1950.  They had 4 children born in Minnesota. 
At 27 Tom was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis which in those days had very limited treatment. His hands were especially involved and made everything he did very difficult and painful. With a wife and 4 children he was not sure how he was going to support them .The Doctors at VA said the dryer and warmer weather would benefit his arthritis so they sold everything and packed up the car to move to California. 
They both found work in the aerospace industry and this is where they raised their family, being blessed with another daughter in 1960. Tom’s trade was welding but he was really an entrepreneur. He was always thinking of ways to make more money. He started with owning restaurants, spraying acoustic on ceilings in the evenings and eventually getting into the construction industry and buying property to fix up and sell and then ending with building a dynasty of rentals.
His education was limited but he was a brilliant business man who was respected and liked by many in the lumber and building industry in Colorado.
His favorite saying was that there were only two things that are certain in this life: death and taxes.   He died peacefully in his sleep on July 19, 2016. 
He is preceded in death by his eldest son Michael J Barrett. 
He is survived by his wife Laura and four children, Ann Kingdon (Rick), David Barrett(Joanne), Susan Delphia (Jim) and Elizabeth Bacon (Ron). 
He was blessed with 5 grandchildren: Joshua, Justin, Kevin, JoAnna , Lauran and 1 ½ great Grandchildren: Cora age 4 and expectant great granddaughter (Nov. 2016)

In lieu of flowers charitable donations may be made in Tom's honor to one of the charities below or a charity of your choosing. 

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