Barrett "Barry" Lee Burgert

Composed by his 3 loving daughters:

Barrett “Barry” Lee Burgert, 78, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at home on April 9, 2025.

Barry is survived by his loving wife Lisa, his daughters Shannon Burgert (Jeff Holt), Heather Hait (John), and Katie Kusold (Mike), two grandchildren Carter and Lacey, two brothers Arnold “Tad” Burgert (Joanne “Jody”) and Grant “Rocky” Burgert (Jeanne), and his former wife Patricia Witt (mother to Shannon and Heather). He was preceded in death by his parents Arnold and Mary, and his brother George “Marty.”

Born and raised in Franklin, Barry’s life journey took him across the country—from the deserts of Arizona to the mountains of Colorado, with meaningful stops in Texas and Wyoming—but Franklin was always home. A geologist by profession and a lifelong lover of science, Barry approached the world with curiosity, wonder, and a deep appreciation for nature’s complexity.

For his master’s thesis at Northern Arizona University, Barry studied the geology of the Grand Canyon, and he spent the better part of three years of his life hiking it. Some days he would backpack the mile of elevation down into the canyon, collect rock specimens for a while, and then hike out carrying a pack full of rocks. Some nights he slept in the canyon, with no tent, laying his head on a rock in lieu of a pillow. Barry had an impressive treasure trove of minerals from around the country and intriguing stories of collecting them.

One of Barry’s most beloved places was the family “cottage,” lovingly built by his grandfather. It was there he found peace, joy, and connection–surrounded by nature, family, and the steady rhythm of the water he cherished. He tended to the large, beautiful property on French Creek, planting numerous trees and flowers and keeping a detailed log of all the happenings: weather events, timing of blooms, floods, and trees blown down by wind. Multiple pairs of binoculars always hung at the ready to watch eagles soar across the river. His connection to nature was also playful. On one of their early dates, he introduced his future wife, Lisa, to a family of raccoons he had befriended in the backyard.

Visitors were always treated to a walking tour of the cottage, with updates on recent water levels of the “crick,” how the grafted hybrid apple tree was progressing, and where the black snake was currently residing–always with pauses along the way to appreciate the massive rhododendrons, pop the seed pods of “touch-me-nots” with the gentlest nudge, or sample a cherry tomato or small handful of raspberries.

Barry was a kind, intelligent soul, known for his subtle but goofy sense of humor, which often caught people off guard in the best way. He never turned down the chance for Taco Bell or good Mexican food, and he had a sweet tooth that was nearly legendary. “Is there anything chocolatey and cakey in the house?” was a common refrain. He also had a bit of a rebellious streak, often reminding those around him with a sly grin that “it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission,” and “rules are for fools.” But his most frequent gem of wisdom reflected his nature of slowing down to enjoy the world around him. When parting from friends and family, he left them with the simple words, “Take it easy.”

The little kid in Barry never faded. He delighted in slapstick comedy and old cartoons, blowing up anything from watermelons to shoes, and walking out to the cottage yard to wave as trains passed by, even well into his seventies.

Music was one of the great joys of his life. He curated mixtapes—his beloved “Top Tunes”—to share with family and friends, a tradition that brought people together and kept his spirit present in every beat and lyric. A demonstration of both his love of music and his keen attention to detail, he taught himself many songs on the guitar by carefully listening note-by-note, rewinding hundreds of times, until he had figured them out by ear.

Among Barry’s other hobbies were nature photography, exploring family genealogy, and woodworking. As with everything in his life, he was a patient, intentional woodworker, using only hand tools, and he crafted shelves proportioned to the golden rectangle.

Barry was a voracious reader and devoured tales of exploration and survival in extreme environments and circumstances. When asked how many books on the Amazon he’d read, his answer was “all of them” with no exaggeration–the stacks of books are evidence. It was often joked that his house was going to sink owing to all his rocks and books.

Another of Barry’s great joys were his dogs. He had sweet relationships with many throughout his life. Cats were more drawn to Barry than Barry was to cats, but they also found a way into his heart and onto his lap.

Barry deeply loved his three daughters. He taught them to be curious, kind, and resilient–and passed on wisdom from his own father, often reminding them, “This too shall pass.” He cultivated a sense of wonder and curiosity and encouraged them to pursue their individual passions. Despite not being an angler himself, he humored his daughter Katie’s love of fishing, taking her out on the river and snapping a photo of every fish caught, at her insistence. When Shannon was young, he taught her the special Dorothy skip from the Wizard of Oz, patiently practicing back and forth across the basement. When Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk wowed audiences, Barry taped it on VHS and slowed it down to analyze its mechanics, leading to another sweet teaching session in the basement. He passed on his love of old comedies and cartoons to Heather. Throughout the years he would record hours upon hours of The Three Stooges, The Little Rascals and old Looney Tunes cartoons on VHS so that Heather could spend her summer mornings enjoying the silly humor they both loved.

His presence, gentle nature, and quiet wisdom will be missed more than words can express, but through every song played, every moment of curiosity, and every peaceful afternoon by the creek, Barry’s voice will be felt, reminding us to take it easy.

~Shannon, Heather, and Katie

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Barrett “Barry” Lee Burgert, 78, of Franklin passed away peacefully at home on April 9, 2025 with his wife at his side.

Born on September 19, 1946 in Franklin, he was the son of the late Arnold and Mary (Bolmer) Burgert.

He was a graduate of Franklin High School and then went to Allegheny College to start his studies in geology and eventually received his Master’s degree as a petroleum geologist from the University of Arizona at Flagstaff.

On September 28, 1991, he married the former Lisa Griffin and she survives.

He worked for Exxon in Texas for many years before working for Terra Resources.

Barry enjoyed reading whatever he could about history, science, nature, etc. His love of nature took him outside to enjoy photography, watching the birds, being mesmerized by the moving water, or whatever there was which also included spending time at the family cottage along French Creek. His favorite places to visit, other than the cottage, were Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon.

He was a proficient rockhound and had a vast collection of rock and minerals. When he wasn’t working in the garden or enjoying the landscaping, you could find him at the Wyattville Greenhouse helping plant seeds for the spring and summer season.

He had a special connection with his golden retrievers, Dylan, Howard, and George as they also enjoyed the great outdoors.

There was an ongoing disagreement in his obsession with the “Curse of Oak Island” where he was highly intrigued by the show and his wife questioned every aspect and the validity of it, making for an interesting Tuesday night.

Most of all, his daughters were his world. He was enlightened by the daily photo updates on the digital photo frame.

Left to cherish his memory along with his wife Lisa of Franklin are his daughters Shannon Burgert and her partner, Jeff Holt, Heather Hait and her husband, John, and Katie Kusold and her husband Mike, all of Colorado; his grandchildren Carter and Lacey Hait; his brothers Tad Burgert and his wife, Jody, and Rocky Burgert and his wife, Jeanie, both of Franklin; and his numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Marty Burgert.

In following with Barry’s wishes, no public services will be observed at this time and arrangements are under the care of the Gardinier-Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, PA 16323.

Memorial contributions can be made in Barry’s memory to the Venango County Humane Society, 286 S. Main Street, Seneca, PA 16346.

Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Barry’s Book of Memories online at www.WarrenFH.com