The Shemwell Family

Robert D Barnette Obituary and Family Listing Robert D. Barnette, former secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 406, died at his home Thursday morning. He suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Barnette, 57, of 8676 Breton Road SE, was elected secretary-treasurer of the 7,000-member Local 406 in 1975 and served in that position until 1981. Services will be Saturday at 3p.m. at the Metcalf-Jonkoff Funeral Home, 2111 44th St. SE. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Cemetery. Although he continued to live in the Grand Rapids area, Barnette worked as a business agent for Detroit’s Teamsters Local 299 from January 1982 until he retired for health reasons Aug. 31. A native of Indiana, Barnette moved to the Grand Rapids area in 1955 and worked as a truck driver until 1966, when he became a business agent for Local 406. He was elected to the local’s most powerful position in 1975. Barnette lost the secretary-treasurer’s job to Durwood “Woody” Young by 66 votes after a bitter re-election campaign in 1981. John Winkle, a close friend of Barnette’s and a former Local 406 business agent, said Barnette had been working behind the scenes in an effort to regain control of Local 406 until last week. "He was very devoted to the Teamsters and the positions he served,” said Winkle. “He was a very, very determined person. Many people have called him a workaholic.” Although Barnette learned he had “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” only in April, Winkle said the disease progressed rapidly. He said Barnette retired from Local 299 after he was rendered unable to drive because of the disease, which causes deterioration of the muscles. Surviving are his Wife, Bernetta, his children, Lennie Thornton of Kentwood, Bobbi Bailey of Kentwood, Connie Sullivan of Grand Rapids, Judi Barnette and James Barnette, at home. Also surviving is his mother, Juaneta of South Bend, Indiana. Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99N9-4HGF?view=index&action=view&cc=2215693 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9N9-4HKF?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ2T3-D3KH&action=view&cc=2215693