Michael (Mike) H. Barbera of Plano, Texas, died at his home on June 28, 2013, after a battle with lung cancer. Mike was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and had just celebrated his 70th birthday days before the time of his death. Mike was the son of Harold J. Barbera (LTC USA-Retired) and Mary Fina Barbera both of Gurnee, Illinois. Both preceded Mike in death. Mike is survived by his loving wife Pamela, son Nathan, daughter-in-law Alisha Penland Barbera and grandson Palmer all of Plano, Texas as well as his sister Jeanne Binder of Waukesha, Wisconsin and her husband Tom and brother William (Bill) of Lindenhurst, Illinois and his wife Cheryl.
Mike graduated from Baker High School in Columbus, Georgia, and attended both the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin – Madison and graduated with a BSEE degree. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He served with the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command in Korea as well as the 50th Signal Battalion of the 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Upon leaving the service, he became employed by Collins Radio Co. of Richardson, Texas as a microwave systems engineer. Collins Radio morphed into Rockwell International which further morphed into Alcatel. Mike served as a telecommunications system engineer, senior project engineer, program manager, engineering group leader, engineering department director, product manager and Sr. Director of Microwave Product Management. Mike enjoyed a 33-year career with Collins/Rockwell/Alcatel.
Mike loved his Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He loved to chill out by the pool while listening to the blues and Willie Nelson. His love for the blues took him and his son, Nathan, his brother Bill, and his nephews and nieces to Chicago each year to see Buddy Guy live at Legends. One of Mike’s passions was photography and he even made a bedroom into a darkroom. (He really hated it when everything went digital!) Mike also loved to take cruises. He & Pam went everywhere from Norway to St. Petersburg, Russia. Since he worked for only one company his whole life, which is a rarity, he made many valued friends at the office. After his retirement, Mike enjoyed his quarterly “Beer Call Tuesday” with his former co-workers to lift a mug or two. In his more active years, Mike played tennis but became content to watch it on television later in life.
Above all, Mike loved his family with a passion. He and Pam were married for 43 years. They often celebrated the 4th of July with their friends at a pool party in the backyard for a number of years. As his son Nathan became an adult, the two of them became very close. Nathan learned so much from his dad and they did a lot of things together. His grandson, Palmer, was the light of his life. Mike faithfully attended his Blastball (beginner T-Ball) games every weekend. You haven’t lived until you have seen a 4 year old play ball! A man who loved life, he will be missed by all. Well done, good and faithful servant.
A service celebrating his life will be held at Saint Michael And All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas Avenue, Dallas on July 9th at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society at PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 (www.donate.cancer.org) or the Music Ministry of Saint Michael And All Angels.
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