The Stovebolt Site Forums The Back Office The Passing Lane - Stovebolt Memorials Barry Weeks :: 2/1963 - 12/2021

From one of our Bolters:

"I wasn't sure who to contact but want to let you know that Barry Weeks has passed away. I know he was a largely involved in the stovebolt forums and wasn't sure if anyone on the forums has known or say anything."

Tried to do some searching on the matter but can up with nothing so far. (My computer was out most of the day.)

Any one know anything?

Peg

Posts by Barry Weeks - for members who do not remember him

RIP, Barry

Shop Shark
From Lake Elmo, MN
Join Date Tue May 23 2000 12:00 PM
Last Seen Sat Nov 20 2021 09:34 AM
458 Total Posts

Barry Weeks - do a G O O G L E search on "Barry Weeks Lake Elmo, MN"

Do a "Stovebolt" search (see the little guy praying on the left; or the Search link on the top or bottom menu bar), for "Barry Weeks" and you'll see a lot of Tech Tips, etc. that he had done.

We have some parts on the History of Stovebolt that I can dig up (hopefully). Barry was key to encouraging John to open up from discussion of only 1939-40 trucks to a better group of years, models and makes.

Had been looking for one of my favorite pictures of Barry. It may also take me awhile to find it. Computer cooperation is key.

Peg

This is really terrible to learn and a great loss for our hobby. Barry Weeks was a wonderful person who was a virtual encyclopedia of 30s and 40s GM truck knowledge, and he operated Weeks End Machine in Lake Elmo MN. As Peg so correctly pointed out, Barry authored many tech articles here that have helped bolters for decades. Sad sad Day. Barry had a Facebook page -- the was truly a G O A T of old truck knowledge.

Rob, you are so correct. I am in shock, having just learned this.

I will write more later, but for now know that if it weren't for Barry, there would be no Stovebolt.com. As we have not seen an obit or anything official from Kathy ... I'm being a little cautious about this for now

Got a message from Barry's wife, Kathy. In part:

"Barry passed away Tuesday night from complications of Covid virus. I'm still in shock, and still find it hard to believe he's really gone from us. I am just now getting over Covid."


I pulled a three page, hand-written note from Barry to John, dated October 15, 1993. Two years before the birth of The Stovebolt Page. John can tell more about all that.

Barry touched so many people in so many ways. We will miss him but we see so much evidence of his passing this way and leaving such a great imprint. Even tho it's sad, I find myself smiling when thinking of him.

Peg

Huge loss for the Stovebolt community. Rest In Peace Barry Weeks.

RIP Barry.

I've read many of his post's. Sad to say that I never met him.

Rest in peace Barry.

John

I met Barry through the Stovebolt page at least 20 years ago . . . he helped me set up a machine shop and mentored me on how to deal with squirrelly customers. I have been to his home a few times and we have swapped our share of truck parts, business advice, and stories.

I haven’t talked to him in over a year and found out Wednesday that he had died. COVID has created so many deterrents to getting together and staying in touch. I am stunned to hear he is gone . . . the world is a poorer place with his passing.

Ken Brown

A photo of me and Barry in front of his shop with my old GMC . . . good times!

From our "Stovebolt Wayback" ...


Barry Weeks' 1940 Canopy Express


"Barry was our "first contact" with the Stovebolt world. You'll see him all over this site -- Tech Tips, Features, IRWIPI. Barry was our first moderator in the forums. We were collectively responsible for half of his gray hairs Plus, he's got his own "web "presence" here. He's a huge help to Stovebolters far and wide! Barry and Kathy are Stovebolters First Class!.

"A few of his Bolts he has listed here are his 1940 Chevy 1/2-ton and 1948 Chevy 1/2-ton. ~~ Editor

We set him up with a spot on the server for Weeks End Machine. After awhile, he realized he didn't need it.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>


Tom Brownell's Updated -- How to Restore Your Chevrolet Pickup


"Since 1993, when I grabbed it from a rack at my favorite bookstore like a strung-out junkie fiercely clutching his next hit, it has been my constant companion through one and a half frame-off restorations of battered, old Stovebolts. Through its pages of inspiration, I met Barry Weeks and a few other Stovebolt notables. Not the least of whom (if, indeed, any rank should be ascribed to this merry band of Stovebolt Brothers!) is the author of our treasured tome himself." --- part of intro to the feature story by John Milliman

I met Barry here on the Stovebolt Page in 1999.... Talked on the phone but never in person...Keep his memories intact .....

RIP Barry.

I have never had any communication with Barry directly but have researched my of his Tech Tips. It's sad to hear someone from our hobby passing on especially someone with so much knowledge and influence. Barry was only a year older than me, RIP.

Sorry to hear about his passing. I remember Barry quite well. Back a few years ago Barry found out I had been in his neck of the woods, when my daughter and I took a road trip, and he "chastised" me for not stopping to see him! I chuckle when I think of him getting on my butt about it.
Thankfully he left a lot of good things for us trucking guys that will last forever. Rest in peace Barry.

Gone too soon᠁

I never met Barry Weeks, but after my first telephone call I know I wanted to. I began to know of him as we all did here on the Stovebolt pages and for me it was ‘98 or ‘99. He had the knowledge I was seeking and I recall asking him for advice on a number of matters.
Here’s a story that is revealing of his character. Early in ‘01 I was on the hunt for a set of Fenton headers and he responded to a Parts Wanted thread I had started saying that he had an original set. I recall conveying my address and phone to him, got busy, and forgot about it. One day I arrived home from work and a medium sized, dense and heavy package with war torn USPS scars was on the front porch. Barry sent the headers without payment. I was awed and honored by his trust. I called, thanked him, and definitely felt like I was just an old friend he was giving a part to. A year or more went by and I was turning soil in my garden when, of all things, I uncovered a small, pot metal, swooping lines of Art Deco toy car. It was missing a tire and had a small dent, but I knew from our conversations that Barry collected and was a fan of such things and sent it off to him. A week goes by and I get a call from a voice I’m having trouble recognizing as he’s excitedly thanking me for the gift. One would have thought I gifted him a pound of fifty dollar bills. Excitable, good and true man, Barry Weeks, gone too soon.

Cosmo, what a great story! Thanks for telling it.

I came across this from the About Us. I had gotten a bit of it wrong in the earlier post I made above.

Stovebolt.com originated in the Fall of 1995 when John Milliman created this site as a project to learn web site coding and design. With old truck input from Barry Weeks, the site started out as just an information site for 1939 and 1940 Chevy trucks. One of very first Bolters was Don "Down2Sea" McLendon. In 1997, Tom Brownell, then editor of Vintage Truck Magazine and author of "How to Restore your Chevrolet Pickup," suggested we expand the site to cover more models. We created the basic site layout still in use today, albeit greatly expanded! In 2000, we added an interactive discussion forum.

Does anyone remember when the site was just part of aloha . net / ~ skipper (or something like that)? I tried to pull it up in the Wayback Machine but I guess that was too long ago and such a very small pebble in the Info Highway.

Wow. I never thought I would be writing this one so soon᠁ Like many friends, I thought I’d have years yet. And I put it off as it seemed that once I wrote it, he'd really be gone. So it’s taken me days to accept, and then to process, Barry’s passing. I'm sorry it's taken this long to get something together. I could go back through the history of Stovebolt.com but I will leave that to another time. Suffice it for now merely to say that without Barry ᠁ without Barry ᠁ there simply would be no Stovebolt.com. There would be none of this.

Whatever we have become, whatever it is that resonates with all of us who call this little way point on the great Internet, whatever that calls each of us to connect with each other to encourage, to help to share and to grow in this hobby ᠁ It all started with Barry.

I am shattered now on this day that I neglected to make this known to him. I am so ashamed at the opportunity lost. But here we are. We never know the day when one of us shall rise and the rest shall not.

It goes back to about 1992. I had just bought myself a basket case ’39 ½-ton. I had found a book in a bookstore (written by Tom Brownell — a future friend and another who left us too soon). In Tom’s book, I found a reference to Barry.

In those days, we had no Internet. Restoration was a singular experience. We were on our own for finding information the old fashioned way — either finding people in person or writing letters. In dealing with this derelict truck, recently dragged out of a Kansas Wheat field, I was so pathetically overwhelmed. I didn’t quite know it, but I was. I was in over my head.
But I wrote a letter to a guy I had found referenced in a book I chanced to find on a shelf in a book store and to my amazement ... He wrote me back. A lot.

The information exchange that ensued was ᠁ amazing.

The breadth of knowledge, and the generosity with which it was shared, was ᠁ at the risk of sounding hyperbolic (so be it, it’s the truth!) ᠁ inspirational.

Again, skipping over a lot of boring back story, it was something that a couple of years later I thought would make the basis of a rudimentary web site. A site meant to help other guys like me (and us!) over the hurdles we faced. And many of them we had no idea of.

The freely shared information that Barry had, gained from his years of restoration work, and his experience as a machinist, were priceless, yet he buried me with it. He just kept sending it. It amazed me. It still does.

So that info exchange formed the basis of the tech tips we crafted to build a little web site. But it was the spirit of that free sharing of knowledge and experience that forged the basic ethos of Stovebolt that (I assume) keeps us all here now — A bunch of old truck nuts helping each other enjoy a rich and rewarding pastime, and the joy and satisfaction of just helping the next guy being all the reward we need ᠁ well, that all started with Barry.

I could go on about Barry’s forging the role of Moderator that all of us have followed since. He was there at the beginning and helped define how the moderators were to function. He helped set down what things a moderator should do and, perhaps more importantly, what a Moderator should *not* do. He wrote the first Tech Tips that bench marked everything we tried to do since. He defined patience and quiet discipline that helped keep us in line, even after the first attempt melted down.

He was my first mentor in this hobby. He was my first spirit guide in forging whatever it is this site means to anyone. And in his own quiet, reserved and sometimes distant way, he was my friend. He leaves a void in my life that’s difficult to describe and to even wrap my own head around.

Whatever it is you think I’ve done to create and develop this site ᠁ it was Barry.

He shared freely. He cared deeply about this hobby and gave us so much of his valuable time and talent. He set a standard I hope we can carry on and live up to.
I will miss him greatly. In short, and to sum it all up, Barry was the quintessential/model/Benchmark Stovebolter. Each of us using this site today and benefiting from the knowledge sharing has been touched by Barry.

I’m not sure what his own personal music muses were, but this tune today made me think of him and moved me deeply. I share it with you for whatever you may get from it..

To Barry᠁

The Parting Glass

Amen, John

That brought a little tear to my eye.

I didn't know Barry personally, but have benefited from his work and wisdom.

Thanks Barry and RIP.

Thanks Barry. RIP!!

Thanks John for 'The Parting Glass', very much sums up all the feelings we have for such great friend as Barry. RIP Barry

Thanks Barry, I wish I could have met him.

Wayne (et al) ... I wish you could have, too. It was a singular experience.

Jim -- It tore me up to listen, and watch, that video and think of Barry. I cried. Marines don't do that a lot, but we're still human. I just raised a glass of 12-year old Balvenie to his honor. And oh by the way, that bottle of single malt, so befitting an occasion such as this, was gifted to me by Hambone as appreciation for something I did for him in this hobby --- something that I was motiuvated to do by the example Barry did for me decades ago. And so it goes on, and so Barry's legacy gets passed along.

"I gently rise and softly call ... Good night and joy be to you all."

Well said brother John, and Amen.

Life goes on.

I still have one of the Xmas cards he sent me many years ago hanging in my shop. RIP Barry

Dear Friends,

We have lost a good friend, and what is more important, a great human being. I met Barry back in 1995/96 after I purchased my 1937 1/2 ton, which needed a complete restoration. I don't quite recall how I first learned of Barry and his expertise (it might have been through the Stovebolt site back in the early years), but because I only live about an hour's drive from Barry and Kathy, we soon became good "truck buddies." The 37 was my first truck restoration and Barry helped me out in countless ways, giving me advice, locating parts, offering all sorts of help. He offered me so many parts either for free or for a remarkably low price--I don't think I could have every gotten the truck on the road without him--in fact, the 235 engine in the truck now was purchased from Barry. After that restoration, we remained friends and grew closer, as we saw each other many times a year at local swap meets (especially Le Sueur, Back to the 50s, and Iola), and visited each other's shops. When I undertook the restoration of my 1938 coupe pickup, Barry again was instrumental in his assistance. Shortly thereafter, Barry had acquired a very nice 1938 3/4 ton panel and had it in storage--mostly in pieces. Every time I saw him, I'd say, "Barry, if you ever want to sell that panel truck, I'm first in line." Several years later, Barry lost his storage space and called me, asking if I was still interested in the 38 panel. Indeed, I was, and true to Barry's generous nature, he sold it to me at the price he had paid many years before, a ridiculously low price for what it was--but he insisted on taking no more for it, even though I begged him to do so. He was simply interested in seeing it restored to its original condition, a promise he had made to the man from whom he had purchased it. Again, during the restoration, Barry came to my aid continually, especially helping out in finding difficult to locate parts. Upon its completion and after taking Best in Class Commercial at the VCCA Central Meet and making the cover of G&D, Barry was just as happy and congratulatory as if he himself had garnered the awards.

We continued to see one another at swap meets and on other occasions, during which I was also privileged to become good friends with Kathy, Barry's kind and generous wife and constant companion. The last time I saw Barry was on August 4, just a few months ago. Barry and his good friend [censored], along with some other friends, had lunch together every Wednesday at a local restaurant--they had been meeting there for lunch every Wednesday for several decades. I drove up to Lake Elmo and had a great time--and true to form, Barry and [censored] insisted on paying for my lunch. After lunch, we walked over to [censored]'s shop and traded lots of stories of past adventures. It was a wonderful time, and I vowed to return for lunch again soon, on a future Wednesday. Unfortunately, I didn't make it back before Barry's untimely passing.

My sincerest condolences go out to Kathy and all of Barry's buddies. He will be greatly missed by every person who was privileged to know him and call him a friend. His passing was way too premature and for that reason, all the more tragic. Every time I start up my 37 pickup or the 38 panel, I will remember my friend fondly and with much gratitude.

Requiescat in pace.

Jim May

Thank you and RIP Barry!

I am so sad to have read this. I did not know Barry personally, only through the pages of this site and the many tech tips I found while searching and navigating. You can often tell from the tone and tenor of a post what the person may be like in person and Barry's posts were always positive, polite, encouraging and interesting. What a loss in general and to us and the hobby. What a bummer.

I met Barry when I first got my Task Force truck in 1998. I needed a part he had so I drove to his house to pick it up. For me it was like meeting a super star, yet he was very gracious. He showed around his house and shop like I was an old friend. I especially enjoyed the old truck in his garden. Later he personally helped me on my truck during one particular sticking point with it. For me he set the benchmark for courteous, kind, and pleasant behavior in the hobby. Thanks Barry, your actions, words and accomplishments, they still provide inspiration for others.
don

Oh yea! I remember "Kathy's garden" truck! That was so clever. You can see it here in the Feature story on the First It Ran When I Parked It photo contest (1999).

Jim Merrit, looking at "firsts" ... you are in that list (1998). Some of the initial contacts we had in the beginning days of The Stovebolt Page. Kevin Bremer was the first truck; Barry's was second. That's when the Gallery stories were so short.

Peggy

Kathy sent Barry's obit today. She also sent some additional pictures. That will take me awhile to get those in!



Barry E. Weeks, 58, Lake Elmo, passed away unexpectedly on December 7. Preceded in death by Sister Tracy Weeks. Survived by wife of 36 years Kathy, Father Bruce (Pat Hurd), Sister Shelley (Scott) Rische, Mother Ceridwen Sanders (Rick Bowen), and many nieces and nephews.

Barry was born February 15, 1963. He was a 1980 graduate of Stillwater Sr. High. He bragged that he lived on the same street in Lake Elmo his whole life, but enjoyed driving and traveling. We traveled to many States in search of 1940 Chevrolet trucks and parts, went to hundreds of swap meets and car shows over the years, and enjoyed as many sights and landmarks as possible along the way, always taking back roads and the roads less traveled.

Barry was a Journeyman Tool & Die Moldmaker, and machinist, and was successfully and happily self employed for over 20 years as owner of Weeks-End Machine. He loved fishing, dogs, racing, and Chevy trucks. He was proud of his many 1940 Chevrolet trucks, and was 1940 Chevy technical advisor in several antique Chevrolet clubs.

Barry was proud his ability to figure out how to make a part for any machine, for any purpose, and make things run. He enjoyed a challenge. Many people sought Barry’s input and advice on how to make something old or worn out work again. He was highly talented and always ready to help someone in need, or connect people to what they needed. He was the answer man.

Barry valued his friendships above all, and knew so many people - locally, from many States, and even other Countries - and kept in touch with them all. He looked forward to coffee every morning with his group of friends, and welcomed new friends to the group. He had a decades-old standing date for lunch “get together” every Wednesday at Twin Point Tavern with his many friends... everyone was welcome to join the table, and add a topic for discussion.

Barry will be greatly missed by many people far and wide. His influence on people was positive, and lasting.

Thanks goes out to the nurses and doctors and staff at Lakeview Hospital, who took such good care of Barry while he was struggling with a Covid infection.

A celebration of Barry’s life will be planned for Spring 2022, and will be announced at a later date.





Barry knew so many people that I did not want to fill a funeral home or venue with our family and friends and have someone contract Covid - I would just die if that happened - so, I talked with Barry's Dad and a few of our close friends and everyone agreed it would be better to have celebration of Barry's life in the Spring or warm weather. Barry had told me and several of our friends he wanted a big party instead of a funeral, and have everyone stand around and tell stories. One of our friends mentioned his celebration will look like an antique car show or street rod show. So, I am looking in our area for a large place to accommodate as many of our friends, family and neighbors who I think will come celebrate Barry's life, and try to have a celebration/party that he wanted.

~~ Kathy Weeks

RIP Barry, I've used or shared his tech tips articles with many people over the years.

Stay safe folks.

-Woog

Sorry to hear of Barry's passing,what a great guy!,bought a grill for my 40 chevy from him some time ago and really nice and informative person

I first met Barry "virtually" here on the SBP about 2000 and had the pleasure to be able to hang out with him in person starting in about 2006 when we moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Living only 20 miles apart it was easy to drop by for great conversation in his shop, many Wednesday lunches at Twin Point tavern with other local friends, Back to the 50's shows at the state fairgrounds, trips to junkyards in western Minnesota and so many other memorable times. Barry helped me get my '39 GMC pickup from Kansas and my '52 GMC suburban from Wisconsin as well as hauling several other trucks for other friends. He was a great resource for getting familiar with the '39/40 pickups and I am forever grateful. Without him, I probably wouldn't own those trucks today. He will be missed and I'm glad I had the time to get to know him.
About 2009, a group of friends drove their trucks across the USA and made a stop to see my family and of course we had to drop by and see Barry. Ken Brown needed a replacement starter drive and Barry had the part "in stock". A test drive of the truck was needed and Ken put Barry in the left seat. I grabbed a few pictures and off they went around the block.


-Andy

So sad to read of this. Godspeed Barry.

I met Barry about 40 years ago. In 1980 or 1981, I had purchased a 1940 GMC model AC102 1/2 ton long box pickup. I responded to his ad a few months later in the wanted section of the MSRA monthly newsletter looking for 1940 Chevy truck parts and contact with other 1940 Chevy truck owners. We met up, compared notes and became friends. We met at swap meets, went to junkyards together and compared our latest vintage speed equipment finds. Together we learned the ins and out of Chevy and GMC pickups. We learned that the Chevy 216 cu. in. engine in my GMC truck didn't belong there and all the other differences of the 2 different brands. We went on all kinds of adventures together, the most memorable being the time we were in northern Minnesota near the town where his Grandparents resided. We were examining some trucks in an open field when shots rang out over our heads from the nearby mobile home. That was the probably fastest two guys ever trudged thru the snow back to their vehicle up on the road and exited the area. Barry was an exceptional machinist. I left the antique truck world and got onto Garden Tractor Pulling. Barry modified or made many parts for my tractors, from clutch parts to transmission gears to differential parts from my amateur drawings, always producing precision parts that were exact fit and maximum durability. All the words in the previous posts are true, he was always there when you needed help, ready to give his advice how things should be done and help you do it if need be. You will be missed by all my friend, RIP Barry.

This sucks.

I never meet the man but from what I can surmise from the conversations I have had with him, he sure was a great guy. I will miss him.
Damm᠁᠁

Mike

Kathy said I should share this:

Sounds like a cool event to celebrate his life. Unfortunately it's too far for most of us.