"First time I saw Barry speak was about 20 years ago. It was a session with a major investment company. I took my seat with the group of maybe 50 high producing investment advisors and brokerage firm executives invited to the meeting. The schedule of speakers included mostly senior fund managers and national sales management for the company. The keynote speaker?s name (Barry) was unfamiliar to me, so I asked the person sitting next to me, whom I didn?t know, if he was familiar with him. He said yes; let me tell you what I know. Before he could finish his response, the moderator of the meeting asked for our attention. After a few opening remarks he introduced Barry?it was the gentlemen sitting next to me whom I had just been talking with. He gave me a sheepish grin and walked to the podium. I spent most of my working career in the investment advisory business. I also attended more investment company due diligence meetings around the country than I would like to admit. Of the dozens of speakers I have heard over the years Barry is the Babe Ruth of all of them. The great bonus with Barry, of course, was that you got the gospel of Jesus Christ weaved in to his presentations. ?Well done good and faithful servant.? "
In loving memory of
Edward "Barry" Asmus
January 18, 1942 - March 30, 2020
Edward "Barry" Asmus passed away peacefully at home on March 30, 2020 surrounded by his family.
Born on January 18, 1942, in Brush, Colorado, he was the son of the late Edward and Esther Asmus. He attended Fort Morgan High School and went on to study Economics at Colorado State University before earning his PhD in Economics at Montana State University.
In 1983, while a professor of Economics at Boise State University, Barry found his calling as a Professional Speaker as a replacement for Alan Greenspan at an American Bankers Association Convention in Hawaii. Thus began a thirty-five year career speaking on Economics and the Free Market that would take him around the globe. He later joined the National Center for Policy Analysis as a Senior Economist. Barry co-hosted a national syndicated radio show called Perspective on the Economy and testified about tax reform before the House Committee on Ways and Means. He was also nominated for an H.L. Mencken Award for a co-authored book, Crossroads: The Great American Experiment.
During the last decade of this career, Barry co-authored a book with his friend, Wayne Grudem entitled, The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution. The book received much critical acclaim in economic and theological circles. Barry and Wayne traveled to many cities and countries holding presentations and discussions on the merits of their book. This book would also bring Barry back to the classrooms of Arizona Christian University and Grand Canyon University to teach and mentor students.
Barry became a Christian at a young age. In 1971, he started Boise Young Life with two other couples and later served as an Elder at Treasure Valley Bible Church. One of his favorite summer activities was taking high school kids to Young Life camps. In 1983, Barry moved his family to Phoenix, Arizona. He and his wife, Mandy, immediately joined Scottsdale Bible Church and he went on to teach an Adult Sunday School Class and serve as an elder for many years. Barry volunteered on the Scottsdale Young Life Committee and would later serve on the Young Life National Board of Trustees.
Barry will forever be remembered for his enthusiasm, humor, energy, and kindness. He was generous with his time, talent and resources. Barry was a promise keeper who deeply loved his family and friends. He was often heard saying, "The Best is Yet to Come" and would quote I Corinthians 13 or "Rindercella" to anyone who would listen. Barry wanted to be remembered for leading others to Christ.
Barry is survived by his wife and best friend of 57 years, Mandy Asmus, his son Andy Asmus and wife Nicole, his daughter Angela Yang and husband Paul, and his adoring grandchildren Andrew Asmus, Raegan Asmus, Emilee Asmus
and Samuel Yang.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date due to the current restrictions of large gatherings.
Donations can be made in Barry's memory to Young Life
(www.younglife.com).
Tributes
"To Mandy and family ... This is from a short relationship of many years ago, from Tom and Karen Rasmussen of Helena. We are offering our condolences on your loss of Barry. Mandy, we met you guys in Bozeman through Bob and Darlyne Haynes and went on several ski trips together back in the late 1960's.We appreciated our short friendship but the most impactful thing is that you witnessed to us about your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Back at that time we didn't have a clue about being "born again". That came later for us but we will never forget your opening that door into our lives. We pray for Father's blessing on you all as you walk into the next chapter of your lives without Barry but with the knowledge that he is walking on "Street's of Gold" and fellowshipping with our Lord and Savior. "
"Wow, what a shock. Barry and I were fraternity brothers back at CSU, and friends as well. We played golf a few times at a little par 3 near Northglenn (scrapped for a shopping center) - Barry was very good, I was very bad, but we had fun. I remember cruising in his Ford Fairlane Retractable car at CSU. The girls loved it and in the winter, Barry would put the top down, and they would throw snowballs at people and things. We nicknamed Barry "The Snowman" for several reasons - but it served him well in his amazing speaking carer. I got together with Barry and Mandy for lunch a couple of times when I came to Phoenix and Barry and I crossed paths in an airport once and when we both spoke at a Colorado Bankers Assn Convention. I had to talk about boring legal things and put everyone to sleep, but Barry lit the place up when he went on. No sleeping then! He was good. The last time I saw him was when he spoke at a church in Fountain Hills. I will miss him, and can imagine how tough this is on Mandy - what a partnership they had - and his kids and grandkids. He lived a full and meaningful life."