Leo Barnes, Manhattan Resident Who Took Honor Flight, Dead At 77

MANHATTAN, IL — Longtime Manhattan resident and U.S. Army veteran Leo Barnes died at his home Tuesday. He was 77.

Barnes, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam, was a long-time member of the Manhattan American Legion Post 935 and a member of the Military Funeral Honor Guard, according to an obituary on Forsythe Gould Funeral Home.

Barnes was the subject of a pair Patch articles in August, when he was chosen for an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

A visitation service is scheduled Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Forsythe Funeral Home, 507 S. State St. in Manhattan. Interment with full military honors will take place at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 23060 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet.

Barnes is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gwen; his children Jayne (John Sims) Barnes, Sue (Richard) Knaperek, Diane (Matthew) Maguire and Leo Jr. “Jamie” (Susan) Barnes; grandchildren William “Keith” Cosmen, Kevin (Karen) Cosmen, Karl Cosmen, Matthew Maguire Jr., Collin Maguire, Wyatt Barnes and Eva Faith Barnes; great grandchildren Emaira Cosmen and Henry Leo Cosmen; siblings Jesse Barnes, Terry (Shirley) Barnes and Doris Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, according to Forsythe Gould Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in Barnes' name to Manhattan American Legion Post 935, P.O. Box 171, Manhattan, IL 60442.

Read the full obituary by following this link.

Related:

• Manhattan Veteran To Take To The Skies For Honor Flight Wednesday
• Manhattan Veteran Returns From Honor Flight