April Lee (Rank) Barry

HANCOCK – April Lee Rank Barry was born in Chicago on Good Friday afternoon on April 7, 1950, the daughter of Shirley Knobloch Rank and James Roger Rank.

April Lee’s mother died eight years and five months later. Her father died 15 years later to the day, earning his halo by never remarrying and raising two young children alone.

April was a wife, mother, secretary, bookkeeper, home daycare provider, bank teller, real estate salesperson, and her favorite, Museum Aide. She earned her associate’s degree while working and raising her boys.

In addition to her parents, April Lee also lost her beloved grandparents, Marie and Gus Knobloch, her uncles Ronnie (Knobby) and Lowell Knobloch, her cousin Barry Knobloch, and her dog, Bingo. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Phillip Barry, sons Patrick and Collin, and grandchildren Cian Barry, Zachery Barry, and Olivia Barry, brother Dale Rank (Terri) in Tennessee, cousins Lori Stirr and Bruce Knobloch, nephews Tony and Joshua Rank, and niece Jamie Rank.

April Lee has requested not to have a traditional funeral or interment. She was an organ donor and hoped that some part of her will help others and that the remainder of her body be donated to Northern Michigan University’s (NMU) Center for Forensic Science.

In lieu of a funeral (and certainly no showing), April wished for all her Keweenaw friends and acquaintances to raise a glass and buy a lottery ticket for her! She was affectionately known to her friends as “Luv Muffin” while she “Ran the Trapline” in the Keweenaw. The Celebration of Life for April will take place November 8, 2024 at The Drift Inn and November 9, 2024 at the American Legion Post 90 from 4-6 p.m.

Gestures of sympathy may be directed to NMU’s Foundation/Center for Forensic Science.