Barry Lee Weismantle passed away October 5th, 2024 age 86; Beloved and cherished husband of the late Kathryn E. Weismantle; Dear Father of Dean, Karen, Donna, the late Jill Weismantle and the late Janice Weismantle; Loving Grandfather of: Drew & Todd Williams; the late Adam England, Katie England, Anna England; Kyle Weismantle; Justin, Megan, Conrad, & the late Jonathan Matthews; Great-grandfather of Mason, Ryan, Nolan Williams; Jacob & Hudson Williams; Lincoln & Marshall Weismantle; Jackson Knott; Dear brother to the late William H. Weismantle, Jr.; Dear brother-in-law; cousin; and Friend to many over the years. Born to parents, the late William H. Sr. & Emma Weismantle.
Alumni of Roosevelt HS; B.S. Degree in Mathematics & a Certificate in Systems and Data Processing from Washington University STL. After HS became a draftsman with Laclede Gas, attending night school and raising a family. Advanced to Engineering assistant in gas flow technology. Taught himself Fortran to help develop the first digital computer at McDonald Douglas saving thousands of man hours in setup time. He fell in love w/cutting edge computer technology & later became a computer programmer with the St. Louis Police Department in 1968, setting up one of the First police computer systems in the country. He was instrumental in setting up one of the first interfaces with the FBI’s NCIC system. Developed the Department’s first CRT driven application, Stolen Vehicle File. Worked with Kansas City and Mo. State Hwy Patrol in setting up their computer systems. Eventually became Department Manager. After 14 years of fun at SLMPD he wanted industrial experience so he took a position with Valley Steel developing inventory control and various other systems, eventually becoming System’s development manager. After 10 years accepted a position at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 1992, a 500 million $ company. Worked with leasing & rental applications, followed by interfacing their reservation system with all the major airlines reservation systems such as Amadeus, Sabre, Galelio, Worldspan, etc. Participated in the company wide Millennium conversion. Spent last 3 years in Data Mining before retiring in May 2004.
Former church and council member of St. Matthew United Church of Christ, (UCOC). Later a member of Grace (UCOC), where he started a teenage youth group and an after-service church social serving coffee and donuts.
He loved his children as much as life itself, giving them the opportunity and free will to do whatever they aspired to do in life. He and his wife Lois were able to provide the opportunity for their children to attend Washington University.
He had many interests, the sciences, was fascinated with Space and the Universe, studied Egyptian Pharaohs & culture, took great interest in the Inca & Maya Civilizations. A Conservationist, fought to stop the Meramec & Snake River Dams. Loved the outdoors, hunted, fished in younger days, and his passion was to float MO Ozark streams in his canoe, loved organizing family floats. He loved to listen to many genres of music. He often let politicians across the country know his views.
After his first wife Lois and he separated in the late 70’s, several years later he met a loving woman named Kathyrn who he married in 1983, he never lacked the words or deeds to tell or display his love for her or she for him, it was a love affair you usually only see in movies. She was the ultimate companion; they usually went on several vacations each year with numerous excursions around the country, one of the most enjoyable was experiencing Yellowstone for 3 weeks during the fires of 1988 having the park to themselves. They loved exploring secluded areas together. They went on multiple cruises with friends and relatives in later years plus vacationed in the Caribbean. They loved and enjoyed each other’s company immensely and never wanted it to end, sadly Kathy passed away in Feb of 2010. In his own words, he believed he lived a great life, his only regret; he and his love Kathy could not have been taken on the same day, he loved and missed her that much.
Thinking romance would never occur again at age 74, fate stepped in and he met another loving woman named Earlette in the fall of 2013; their backgrounds, experiences, thoughts, opinions, were so compatible, they often mused how similar their prior paths have crossed at different times in their lives in St. Louis. Both felt fortunate meeting each other at this time in their lives. Regrets, yes, having to leave this beautiful Earth, children and Earlette.
Sevices: Funeral at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd on Monday, October 14, 10 a.m. Burial Mt. Hope. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Or Alzheimer Association St. Louis Chapter; Or Share an act of kindness. Visitation Sunday 2-6 p.m.
You are missed and loved Daddy.