Bernard Ouellette

BERNARD (Bun, Barney) OUELLETTE passed away in Saline, MI on April 6, 2022 after a difficult illness. He was born October 16, 1940 in Tamarack, Michigan, the son of Roy and Rose-alma (Marie) (Morency) Ouellette. He was a graduate of Lake Linden - Hubbell High School class of 1958. Following graduation he enlisted in U.S. Air Force, where he served four years. He then began working on his associate degree at Suomi College. Shortly thereafter he married Marilyn Pellerin of Hubbell and they settled in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he began his over 30 year career working for Chrysler Corporation. They were married for 58 years.

Barney and Marilyn always longed to ‘go home’ to the UP, and found the perfect place for their return on Lost Lake. There, they found a sturdy house with lots of upgrade projects to keep them both busy, and a large lakefront yard for Marilyn to garden. By the time of their retirement, “Breezy Point” was ready for full-time living and they moved back home in 1995.

Life at Lost Lake was filled with friends and fun and most of all, music. Barney’s wonderful baritone and his time-keeping bass playing matched Marilyn’s multi-instrument and harmony talents, and when they met neighbors Ken and Chelle Schuster a quartet was formed. Ken added autoharp and Chelle played hammered and mountain dulcimers; both also sang harmony. The result was Lost Lake Effect, a band that played all over the UP at festivals and venues and made two CDs. Any Lost Lake Effect show included several of Barney’s truly corny-bad jokes and ended with their signature song, “Nail That Catfish to the Tree”.

Barney also kept the beat and told the jokes as part of the Old Time Jam at Falling Rock Café for over 20 years; he also gave the low notes to Marilyn’s famous Ukulele gathering, Superior Lost Lake Ukulele Group, better known as the SLLUGs.

Between gigs and jams, Barney also found time to work on his house, his boat, his RVr years and his woodworking. Barney and Marilyn traveled to winter music fests, snowbirded in Florida and made regular trips to his birthplace in the Copper Country. And he was always accompanied by one or more of his beloved dogs---and Marilyn, of course.

“We all loved him at Lost lake, bad jokes and all,” said neighbor and friend Kappy Laing. “It will be a lot quieter around here now.”

Barney leaves behind his wife, Marilyn - Wetmore, MI., daughter, Susan Pickering (Mark Hissong) - Highland, MI, sons, Louis (Therese) - New Boston, MI, David (Nicole) - Fenton, MI., nine grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, sister, Patricia Watson - Gay, Michigan/Ajijac, Mexico, numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers. Roy - Mountain View, CA, Irving - Inglewood , CA and Richard - Hubbell, MI and sister, Rosemary Simmons of Royal Oak, MI.

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at the American Legion in Munising on Saturday, May, 14, 2022.  A time of visiting, fellowship, and music will take place from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.  The Alger County Veterans Council and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors outside of the Legion at 5:00 p.m.