Leslie Wayne Barnett

Leslie "Les" Wayne Barnett Sr., age 87, of Iola, Kansas, passed away Sunday February 24, 2019 at Windsor Place of Iola. Les was born in Geneva, Kansas to Donald H. Barnett and Alice E. Heinz. Les graduated from Lawrence Memorial High School, Lawrence, Kansas, in 1951. After highschool Les joined the Navy in 1951 and was stationed in Long Beach, California. He served on minesweepers in the engine room during the Korean War. He went on many different tours to places such as Japan, Bikini Island, Hawaii and various Korean ports. On May 17, 1953 Les married Gertrude E. Marquette in Lawrence, Ks and to this union three children were born. They later divorced. Les' first job, as a child, was at a local greenhouse shoveling manure into the flower boxes. His next job, at ten years old, was carrying papers for the Lawrence Journal World. In the 11th grade Les started working in the office at the Lawrence Journal World. After his military service, Les returned to working as a pressman at the Lawrence Journal World, then for two years he worked at the Color Press as a mail room foreman. He then, moved on to the Kansas City Star also working as a foreman in the mail room. In 1972 the family moved to Iola, Kansas and started The Circle B Boys Ranch. In 1973 Les started working at the Iola water plant as an operator and continued to work there until his retirement in 1994. Les married Hilda Marvin in 1978 in Iola, Ks. They enjoyed their time on the farm raising cattle and working in their garden. Les was a member of the Colony Lions Club and the American Legion. His hobbies included building and flying remote control planes. He collected coins and model cars. Les enjoyed taking his Model A and Whizzer motorbike to many different car shows. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and the outdoors. Les will be remembered for his sense of humor, being ornery, a good story teller and always leaving a smile on your face. Les is preceded in death by his wife; parents; one brother Gene Barnett. Les is survived by two sons Leslie "Skip" Barnett Jr. and wife Elaine, Jefferson City, Missouri, Steven Barnett and wife Kathy, Rising Fawn, Georgia; two daughters Becky J. Robb and husband Rick, Iola, Kansas, Cindy Marvin Folk and husband Joe, Iola, Kansas; one nephew Larry Barnett and wife Sally, Lawrence, Kansas; nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, 1883 Us-Hwy 54 Iola, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Geneva Cemetery, Colony, Kansas. Memorials in honor of Les are suggested to the Geneva Cemetery or the Veterans' Honor Flight LeRoy, Kansas. Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com