Henry Lavern “Hank the Bank” Barber, 90, of Allegan, Michigan passed away peacefully in his sleep with his wife of 70 years, Marilyn, by his side on Sunday October 27, 2024. Born July 10, 1934 at his parents’ home at the corner of Grant Street and Western Avenue in Allegan, he was the third of five boys of Franklin Perry “Red” Barber and Sara Lavina (Dunsmore) Barber. Henry was preceded in death by his parents and older brothers, which included a half-brother, Lloyd D. Barber, Orrie Edwin Barber, and Robert James Barber; a son-in-law, Ronald G. Melvin; and a daughter-in-law, Patricia M. (Gallagher) Barber.
Early life for Hank included work with his father Red’s horse-trading business, with young Hank being brave enough to take on the toughest of horses. He was known to gallop two horses at times, similar to many circus performers, and to the delight of his father and brothers. Hank also at this time learned the art of horse trading and, to the dismay of his father, acquired a pet monkey Jacko!
Henry graduated from Allegan High School in 1952. While attending school he was very active in extracurricular activities, which included Varsity letters in track and football where he was a co-captain, and a member of the Kalamazoo Gazette’s all South-Western Michigan football Team for 1951. He continued his schooling later in life when he graduated from the School of Banking at the University of Michigan in 1961 and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in 1964.
Henry served his county for 9 years as a CO for the 126 Kalamazoo Unit of the National Guard where he sharpened his culinary skills during yearly trips to camp Grayling in Northern Michigan.
Henry began his career in banking at the Allegan State Bank in 1952. In 1964 he became affiliated with the American National Bank in Kalamazoo and in 1965 opened the Allegan office of the American National Bank and served at its Vice President. During his career with American he opened two additional banks in Allegan and started one in South Haven, Michigan in 1974. During his tenure at the bank he would always reach out to the community in an effort to improve the quality of life of those who needed it most. He would give hard working, honest people a loan when other banks had turned them down. He had faith in the Community and in turn they trusted and cared about him. Henry concluded his banking career with Old Kent Bank, which is Fifth-Third currently, in 1989.
American National was purchased in 1985, he retired after being President of the Allegan Bank for the last sixteen years of his career.
It would be easier to tell you about the organizations that Henry does not belong to rather than enumerate all the ones to which he does belong. They included the 4H and FFA, Elks Club (69 years), Moose Club, Eagles Club (he certainly seems to cover the animal kingdom) as well at the JayCees, Cancer Society local Chairman, President of Chamber of Commerce, Showman’s Club, South Haven Yacht Club, and Monroe Park Yacht Club.
Henry was elected to the Allegan City Council from 1970 to 1981 and was Mayor of the City of Allegan during two terms, 1972 to 1974 and 1976 to 1978. He was recognized by the Allegan Chamber of Commerce in 1984 as Business Person of the Year, and in 1988 he was given a Lifetime Service Award.
Last but not least, Henry had been directly involved with the Allegan County Fair for seventy-two years. He began his career as a cashier during the fall of 1952, he joined the Board of Directors in 1971, was a Vice President under Weldon Rumery for many years, and then it’s President for over 20 years. Together with Weldon and his son Patrick, the first paid Fair Manager in Allegan County Fair history, they began to book major talent into the Allegan County Fair. The decision to bring a young Australian band Air Supply was the financial windfall that allowed the Allegan County Agricultural Society and Fair to reach its position as a major entertainment center, and one of the United States largest county fairs.
Henry is survived by wife Marilyn; his siblings and their respective spouses, Elaine Barber (Lloyd), Ruth Barber (Orrie) Betty Barber ( Robert), John and Earleen Barber, Donald and Joyce Barber; he and Marilyn’s children, Vicki Barber, Janet (Barber) Melvin, and Mark Henry Barber; two grandchildren, Megan (Melvin) Webster and Tyler Henry Melvin; and a great-grandson, Grady Melvin.
The family will receive friends at Gorden Funeral Residence, Allegan Chapel, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Henry will be laid to rest privately at Oakwood Cemetery in accordance with his wishes.
