George D. Barnhill Sr.

                                                                                               George Dempsey Barnhill, Sr.

                                                                                            April 14, 1939    November 21, 2024

 George Dempsey Barnhill, Sr. age 85, of Nashwauk passed away Thursday, November 21, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born April 14, 1939, to Grayson and Hannie Belle (Merritt) Barnhill in Fair Bluff, NC. George grew up in North Carolina and served in the Montana National Guard. He owned G & F Plumbing in Wilmington, NC and went on to own Master Roofing & Remodeling in Hibbing, MN. George was very handy and was able to support communities by building 2 churches and even a Christian School. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting with his buddies Randy Lehman, Steve Lundquist, Brian Henry and Wallace Guy.  George enjoyed gardening with his daughters Ginny and Dorothy, birdwatching with his wife, camping with his family, helping at Camp Swampy, playing on the church softball team, spending time with his family and reading his Bible.

 George is survived by his wife, Barb Barnhill of 62 ¾ years of marriage, of Nashwauk; sister, Dorothy Rocker of Maryland; children, Ginny (Jack) Calson of Hibbing, Mary Brklich of Maryland, Dorothy (Steve) Lundquist of Pengilly, Delores (Tim) Gatz of Faribault, George (Sheila) Barnhill Jr of Nashwauk, Barb (Jeremy) Nelson of Keewatin, Liz (Brian) Henry of Nashwauk, Becky Barnhill of Arizona, and Rachel (Justin) Arnold of Ohio; 26 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Pat Barnhill; grandson, Jacob Barnhill; friends, Bill Swanson, Wallace Guy, and Robert Frindland; and multiple brothers and sisters.

 Funeral Services for George will be held at 12:30 pm Friday, December 6, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Hibbing, MN. Pastor Dwight LaPine will officiate. Visitation will be held from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm at the church on Friday. Interment will be held at the Nashwauk Cemetery in Nashwauk, MN. 

A special thank you to Essentia Hospice of Itasca County; Daughters Dee, Rachel, and granddaughters Alicia, Talia, and Veronica for the end-of-life care of their grandpa. Bill and Grace Swanson, Randy and Sarah Lehman, Allan and Kathy Olson, and Troy and Kathy Nelson for their friendship over the years. Pastor Lapine and members of the First Baptist Church (Hibbing) for their prayers, gifts, care, and friendship.