Obituary of Barry Francis Mattern

We are heartbroken to announce the sudden passing of Barry Mattern on January 1, 2025, at his home in La Salle, Manitoba.

Barry was pre-deceased by his parents Carl and Grace (McIntosh) Mattern; and his first wife Judy Mattern.

Barry is survived by his wife Brenda, daughter Maggi Mattern Sawchuk (grandson DJ Sawchuk), son Jeff and his wife Linda (grandsons Brendan Graham and Danyon Graham and his partner Cassidy Berthelette), son David.  Stepchildren Alex McClane (partner Kahlan Aubrey, granddaughter Jessica Rudy and her husband Dan Rudy, great grand children Zoey and Noah, grandson Logan Dionne and his partner Samantha Main), Brian Roloff and his wife Carrie (grandchildren Segan and Cailynn)

Barry had many passions in his life, starting with working at the YMCA and Camp Manitou.  He worked at Canada Post for 19 years as a letter carrier.  Dad was also quite the handyman.  He helped many friends in the Maples area build rec room, decks, fences and garages.  Dad could fix or build pretty much anything.

In 1970, he helped bring the sport of Ringette to Manitoba, and the rest of Canada after it was invented in Ontario.  In 1979, he took his 1st Ringette team to Finland to introduce and demonstrate the sport.  That was the start of many trips to Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  There are lots of memories of the fund raising that took place.  From bottle drives, meat sales, Grey Cup tickets, delivering phone books and working at Bingo.  Barry always made raising the money a fun experience.  He was also a coach and manager for many local and national teams, plus he was also a referee.  Dad made a lot of good friends in all the countries he visited promoting Ringette especially Seppo Ryosa and Kaisa Rantala. 

In 1972, he was elected the 1^st President of Ringette Manitoba, and in 1977, was elected as the 3^rd President of Ringette Canada.  He was also inducted into the Manitoba Ringette and Canada Ringette Hall of Fame.

Barry was a lifelong fan of camping.  From tents, tent trailer, converting an old school bus to a motor home to a 5th wheel trailer.  We have many fond memories of numerous weekends at Birds Hill Park, plus packing up the bus on the last day of school, to head out on another adventure. 

Barry and Brenda spent 15 years at Hidden Shores RV Park, in Yuma Arizona as snowbirds.  They made many good friends over the years in Yuma.  He enjoyed playing cards, helping to sort the cattle for the local rodeo.  He also used his postal skills, to sort the mail, and deliver parcels to individual trailers. 

During the summer months, they spent 9 years in St. Paul, Alberta, running the Iron Horse Campground.  They also spent 2 summers as campground hosts at Birds Hill Park.

Barry and Brenda continued to travel after they permanently settled in Winnipeg, then La Salle, taking numerous cruises, and trips to Northern California to visit friends they met while in Yuma.

Husband, Barry, Dad, Grandpa, great Grandpa, Mr. M., coach will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.

There will be a come and go Celebration of Life on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1010 Taylor Avenue between 12:00 and 4:00 PM.  Family and friends who wish to pay their respects and say goodbye, are welcome to join us.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Barry’s name to either KidSport Canada, or Cancer Care Manitoba.