Obituary remembers Fr. David Barrett, longtime Keshena pastor, dies at 87

Fr. David Barrett died June 16 at 87 after 28 years as pastor of St. Michael Parish in Keshena.

Barrett was born June 29, 1938, in Green Bay, the son of Homer J. and Regina Starr Barrett. He graduated from Annunciation Grade School and Green Bay West High School in 1956, then was ordained in 1964 after studies at St. Lawrence Seminary. By the time he arrived in Keshena, he had already served at St. Pius X Parish in Appleton, and his appointment there in October 1980 began the stretch that defined his ministry in Menominee County.

In 1991, while still serving Keshena, he was named temporary administrator of St. Anthony Parish in Neopit. In 2000, he was named administrator of St. Francis Solanus Parish in Gresham while remaining pastor of St. Michael and St. Joseph of the Lake Mission in South Branch. He also served as regional vicar from 2002 to 2007, a diocesan role that put him in contact with parishes across northeast Wisconsin.

Barrett retired from full-time parish leadership in July 2008, but he continued as minister of the sacraments at St. Michael before serving in the same role at parishes in Gillett, Suring and Chute Pond from 2009 to 2012. He fully retired in 2012 after 48 years of service in the Diocese of Green Bay. Catholic records list St. Michael Church in Keshena as a predominantly Native American, Menominee parish.

His visitation and funeral Mass were held in Shawano, with burial in Green Bay.