Clark C. Barnes (1942 - 2023)

BARNES, MINCER, PLEASANT

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 22:09:15

Clarke C. Barnes, 80, of Geneseo, IL, passed away on July 6, 2023, at Hammond Henry Long-Term Care Center-Geneseo. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Grace United Methodist Church, Geneseo with Pastor Dan Seibert officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 9-11 AM prior to the service at the church. He will be laid to rest at Rock Island National Cemetery on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 11:30 AM. Memorials can be made in his name to: Semper Fi & America’s Fund; Illowa Detachment #102 (Scholarship Program); PAWS for Purple Hearts or Arbor Day Foundation.

Clarke was born in Fort Dodge, IA on October 3, 1942, the son of AnnaMia and Tom Pleasant. He attended school in Iowa City, IA, kindergarten through law school. He liked to say he was a ‘Little Hawk’ before he became a ‘Hawkeye.’ His mother raised him and his brother being a seamstress and renting homes. Clarke married Gayle Mincer, the love of his life, on February 3, 1962. He graduated from University of Iowa Law School 1967, enlisted in the US Marine Corps and reported for duty in November 1967. He served a tour in Vietnam followed by an accompanied tour in Iwakuni, Japan, leaving active duty at Great Lakes in 1972, remaining in the Marine Reserves. Clarke reached the rank of Colonel. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1995. After leaving active duty he moved to Rock Island, IL to work as a prosecutor, public defender and opened his own law office. In 1977 he was appointed an Associate Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Illinois until elected Circuit Judge of Henry County, retiring in 2000, being recalled to Rockford, IL 2008-2009, again retiring. After retirement he became a Veteran Service Officer helping many veterans throughout the United States file their claim for service-related illnesses. Clarke served as president of Geneseo Rotary in 2014. Clarke taught Sunday School for many years-high school, college, and adult classes. He also thoroughly loved the many years he coached baseball. Clarke loved his family-being with them on vacation, watching his children participate in music and sports and good old family reunions. His most memorable vacation was a month spent with his daughter touring Australia. Clarke had many hobbies, but his most expressed love was his quoting of a little verse- “You are writing a Gospel, a chapter a day; By the things that you do and words that you say. People read what you write, whether faithless or true, so what is the Gospel, according to you?” (The Acts of the disciples are found in 28 chapters written by Dr. Luke). YOU are writing Acts 29 proudly displayed on his license plate.

Those left to cherish his memory are wife, Gayle Barnes of Geneseo, children; Patrick (Kimberly) Barnes of Carterville, IL, and Carrie Barnes of Riverside, IA, brother, Raymond Barnes of Kalamazoo, MI, grandchildren; Bryan and Kinley Barnes of Carterville, IL, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and AnnaMia Pleasant.

Clark's Remembrance Page
 

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