Happy Birthday to Donna, Many Good Memories of JM! - UPDATE November 7, 2024
JeanMarie Barnish
Many bears and people, including me and especially her husband Steve, will miss JM who passed away at 3 AM on November 4. Her heart for bears began with Lily and Hope. It grew as she and Steve attended four Black Bear Field Courses in 2013-2016. At the end of 2016, her heart for bears drove her to ask her husband if she could retire from her job as a financial manager of a big corporation and dedicate her life to bears. Steve knew her feelings. He said “Fine.” She helped run the GIVEMN campaign, but she wanted to be closer to the bears. I remember her coming to me in tears saying she liked what she was doing but what she really wanted to do was what she loved!. “What was that?” I asked. “Cooking and cleaning!” she said. Surprised, I then heard what she really meant—cooking and cleaning where she could learn about bears, teach about bears, and be with bears. “Yes!” I said, and she began her six years as the volunteer cook and bottle washer for the WRI’s Black Bear Field Courses. She threw her heart into it. She was doing what she wanted. Steve and JM bought a house in the study area and together began doing what the local community had been doing since 1958 to keep bears out of trouble. She and Steve fed them, got to know them, learned from them, and watched them become some of the oldest bears in Minnesota, including the second oldest black bear on record (Shadow) at 35. She joined the Board of Directors of the North American Bear Center, and did everything she could for the Bear Center and the WRI year after year. Meanwhile, Black Bear Field Course participants loved her, her food, and talking to her. JM loved them back. Cancer took away her vigor at the end of 2022 and even though she could no longer do cooking and cleaning, she still visited the courses and the people she had bonded with over the years. During 2023 and 2024, she fought valiantly and kept a positive attitude. Many visited her right up to the end. November 4 was a loss for all.
I am one of the many who will miss you JM! You have done so much and meant so much to so many! We all will continue to do all we can for the bears. Your friend, Lynn Rogers
Others felt the same. Here are five comments from her obituary page already.
Steve, I’m sending my sincere sympathy, caring thoughts and prayers. JM's energy and work ethic, her dedication to what she loved in life, her smile, laughter and positive attitude were so very special - I know that sharing her life with you made all that possible. I knew her through the NABC, and mostly through working with her on the annual fund raiser, GiveMN - but feel special indeed to have had her in my life. God be with you and your family during this most difficult time. Sending a huge bear hug, Mary Vespia
Sending our thoughts and condolences from the UK. She did a sterling job at the WRI feeding the many. Such a lovely lady. With love, June and Peter Briggs
So sorry to hear about the loss of JeanMarie. Her smile and energy lit up the room. My condolences to her family. Mary Ubl
Dear Steve, I've known you both for many years. JM's love for life, bears and you are very memorable. I pray for strength for you and family. JM will always be a part of our bears, the NABC, and WRI. God's gracious love abounds. Sharon Herrell
Wonderful cook and story-teller at the WRI, but more importantly a beautiful person inside and out, a bear-lover and most of all, wife of Steve. All my sympathy to JM´s family and close friends. May she rest in eternal peace. Margaret Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
Here is her official obituary:
JeanMarie (Lane) Barnish, 67, of Sarasota, Florida, a former resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, passed away Nov. 4, 2024, following a courageous battle with lung cancer, surrounded by her family and friends.
JeanMarie was the daughter of Shirley (Moses) Bradley and John K. Lane.
In 1986, JeanMarie (JM to many) married her soulmate and best friend, Stephen (Steve) Barnish, and spent 38 years living a love story. Together, they traveled the world.
JeanMarie recently celebrated her 50th high school class reunion from Ne-Ca-Hi in September.
Before leaving New Castle, JM worked closely with her grandfather, Anthony J. Moses, who helped her establish a work ethic that supported a successful future.
JeanMarie earned her undergraduate degree in economics and an MBA in finance (both with high honors) from Rutgers University. JM spent 35 years working in finance in New Jersey, New York and Texas.
While living in Texas for 20 years, she became an avid golfer and even made a hole-in-one.
In 2013, she retired from corporate America to pursue her passion of educating people on the true nature of black bears. Until the time of her death, JM volunteered her services to the North American Bear Center (NABC) and Wildlife Research Center (WRI) in Ely, Minnesota, where she also served as a member of the board of directors of the NABC.
JM loved to cook, especially for friends. She is most likely cooking in heaven for the family and friends that predeceased her.
JeanMarie is survived by her husband, Steve; two stepchildren, Michael (Rosana) Barnish and Kimberly (Andrew) Peel; two grandchildren, Brody and Cameron; stepfather, Thomas J. Bradley; sister, Patricia Phipps; niece, Kelli (Ford) Phipps Fuller; nephew, Bradley Phipps; three great-nieces, Ava and Brooklyn Phipps, and Grace Fuller; and great-nephew, Ford Fuller. She is also survived by her miniature schnauzers, Hazel Honeybuns and Sadie Lee Poundcake.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Bradley; and father, John Lane.
A private service will be held for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to the North American Bear Center (Ely, Minnesota). Please visit: Bear.org.
Local arrangements were entrusted to the Noga Funeral Home, Inc. 1142 S. Mill St., New Castle, 16101. Online condolences may be viewed by visiting
www.nogafuneralhome.com.
Thank you JM, and thank you ALL for all YOU do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center
