Donald "Don" V. Barnes

Don V. Barnes, 83, of Cook, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 18, 2015, at the Cook Hospital.

He was born on April 5, 1931, at Waukegan, Illinois, the son of Walter and Esther (Simonson) Barnes. He grew up in Waukegan and Alango. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 in 1949, serving during the Korean War,and had a 20 year career in the military, retiring from the Army in 1969.   He married Donna L. Mann on December 11, 1952 at Camp Roberts in California. After his military retirement, he engaged in a second career with Lake Country Power. He retired from there in 1988, after 18 years of dedicated service. After retirement he and Donna enjoyed spending winters traveling south in their RV, and summers at their place at Lake Vermilion.

He is preceded in death by his parents Walter (1988) and Esther (1995) Barnes; a brother, Robert Barnes (1987), and a niece, Brenda Barnes (1980).

Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna; a son Larry (Becky) Barnes of Cook; 2 cherished Granddaughters- Tifany (Nathan) Briggs of Angora and Taryn (Matt) Erickson of Duluth; 4 cherished Great Grandsons- Kohen and Isaiah Briggs and Braeden and Chase Erickson; a sister-in-law, Ethel Barnes of Cook; 2 nieces – Kathy (Mike) Duame of Cook and Noreen DeLuca of Burnsville.

SERVICES : Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Friday (Jan. 23rd) at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Alango. Pastor Joey "pj" Bailey will be the officiant. The pianist will be Margaret Jarka. The honorary bearers will be Matt Erickson, Nathan Briggs, Kohen Briggs, Braeden Erickson, Isaiah Briggs and Chase Erickson. Spring interment will be in the Cook Community Cemetery. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook.