Carl Lester Barcroft

Carl Lester Barcroft, age 90 of Freeport passed away on May 29, 2014, at Thornapple Manor. Carl was born February 19, 1924, in rural Nashville to John Elver and Eunice Marietta (Cairns) Barcroft. He graduated from Freeport High School in 1941 and completed the Michigan State College (now MSU) agriculture short course in 1943. Carl farmed with his father and his brother Lawrence during WWII.

Upon his marriage to Marjorie Louise Norton on March 1, 1947, Carl farmed the Floyd Eckert farm near the Fillmore School. They purchased the Mort Nichols farm at Carlton Center in 1959 where he was a lifelong dairy farmer dedicated to caring for his cattle and crops.

Carl served on the Freeport School Board, was active in Farm Bureau, served as a Junior Farm Bureau counselor, was Carlton Township justice-of-the-peace, and sang in church choirs during his early adult years. He was honored as a 35-year member of Michigan Milk Producers Association and belonged to the DHIA. He was a long-time member of the Hastings First Presbyterian Church and the Freeport Historical Society, writing histories on several topics.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Lawrence, Albert, and Ronald Barcroft. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Freeport, daughter Debby (John) Stassek of Bloomingdale, son Tony (Kay) Barcroft of Hastings, grandchildren Robert (Ariane) Stassek of Portland, Oregon, Christina (Casey) McDonald of Grand Rapids, Ashley (Matthew) Singh of Grand Rapids, Larissa Stassek of Kirkland, Washington, great-grandson Ford McDonald, sister June Hecht of Lake Odessa, many nieces and nephews, and special neighborhood kids.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Freeport Historical Society Museum or Hastings First Presbyterian Church.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 3 from 10:00-11:00, followed by the funeral at 11:00 at First Presbyterian Church, 405 North M-37 Highway, Hastings.