Frederick Ellis Barnett, Sr.

Fred Barnett, 90, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of June 25, 2019. Fred was the son of William and Anne (Hirst) Barnett of Detroit, Michigan. Fred received Christ as Savior after his wife became a Christian. Peggy watched Dr. Billy Graham on television and during the prayer at the end, she asked the Lord to save her from her sin. Billy Graham encouraged those who listened to attend a good, Bible-preaching church on Sunday and Peggy went to Calvary Baptist Church which was very close to their home. The pastor of the church came to their home to meet Fred and to share the Gospel with him. He prayed to receive Christ right there in their living room. God truly changed Fred and Peggy and they became active serving the Lord and raising their family to know and serve Jesus.

At 17 years of age, Fred joined the navy and served at the end of World War, II in the Mediterranean receiving the World War, II medal. He was given the coveted position of serving as Captain’s Orderly while on the ship. He also was chosen to be Sideboy to the King of Greece when the king visited the ship, the USS Shenandoah. Following his service in the navy, Fred returned to Michigan and worked various jobs. He was trained as a stereotyper at the Detroit News where he became a foreman until 1970’s. Fred saw that computers would soon be causing his position to be phased out, so he began his own business, Barnett’s Glass, from his garage. He continued working nights at the newspaper while getting his business off the ground. It grew and he eventually had a crew of workers until he retired later in life. He encouraged church young men by hiring them as they needed summer employment to return to Bob Jones University in the fall.

Fred served as a trustee over the years at his church in Roseville, Michigan. He also served as a Sunday school teacher to junior high age boys. In addition to this, he coached church ball teams and made a difference in many young people’s lives. He also drove the church bus and there are those who came to Christ because they were taken to church on Fred’s bus.


Fred is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy”; son, Frederick E. (Debra) Barnett, Jr. ; daughter-in-law, Marjie Barnett; daughter, Shelley (Bob) Johansen; daughter, Elizabeth (Sam) Berchiolly; brother, Richard (Kaye) Barnett; eighteen grandchildren: Chad (Ruth Ann) Barnett, Todd (Melissa) Barnett, Brad (Becky) Barnett, Kelsey Barnett, Michael Louis (Lauren) Kollmorgen, Brent (Sarah) Barnett, Alison (Joe) Hoff, Hilary (Stephen) Korb, Brian (Charis) Johansen, Kevin (Hailey) Johansen, Emily (Tim) Brokke, Christian Johansen, Michael Schaefer, Jr., Erick (Rebecca) Schaefer, Tyler Schaefer, Nick Berchiolly, Brian Berchiolly, Sam Berchiolly Jr., Krystal Millar and thirty-two great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William Barnett, sisters, Lucy Barnett and Shirley Dixon; son, Rodney Barnett and granddaughter Rochelle Lucy Schaefer.