Former Kane County Board member, veterans' advocate dies
No matter the problem, Lee Barrett always was there to help, family and friends say of the former Kane County Board member.
The 77-year-old from East Dundee died Saturday at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin.
A longtime Dundee Township Republican precinct committeeman, Barrett was active in Kane County politics until the end. He served eight years on the Kane County Board and tried to get back on but lost the 2012 Republican primary for the 21st District to Becky Gillam of West Dundee.
"He's going to be a great loss to the community," said Thomas Smith, a longtime friend and fellow county board member. "We were involved in politics together. He had a lot of knowledge of the board. He was a heck of a good guy."
During his tenure, Barrett dedicated his energies to representing the 21st District, which includes parts of Elgin, Sleepy Hollow, East Dundee, West Dundee, Carpentersville and Gilberts.
"He was jokingly called 'the guardian of the Fox' because he did so much work with (the county)," said Carmen Barrett, his wife of 49 years. "He was always thinking of people. That was his main thrust. If you needed help, he was there."
An engineer by profession, Barrett was president, owner and operator of Barrett Engineering, Inc., in East Dundee. He also was a Vietnam era Army veteran having served in the Tank Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division, and a member of the AMVETS Post 202.
Barrett served on committees to develop the Elgin Veterans Memorial Park and the Kane County Veterans Memorial outside the county building in Geneva, and worked on issues involving the waterways and riverfront, Carmen Barrett said.
"He was very interested in making sure that the river was maintained," she said. "He has worked tirelessly with the veterans parades, color guards, but also making sure the AMVETS in this area were aware of what benefits were available to them."
Barrett frequently would drive local veterans without transportation to the Hines VA Hospital for services, traveled to Springfield to work with legislators on veterans' issues, and also volunteered to accompany them on Honor Flights, she said.
He was a member and former officer with the Dundee Township Republican Central Committee, a member of the Wicker Park Lutheran Church in Chicago, and was involved with Habitat for Humanity and worked with Elgin area churches helping build homes for people, Carmen Barrett said.
Barrett is survived by his two daughters, Leigh and Eileen, and brother, Frank Barrett. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Grace Barrett, brothers, Lloyd and Ernest, and sister, Arlene Roloson.
Visitation for Barrett will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Miller Funeral Home, 504 W. Main St., West Dundee. Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home followed by burial with military honors in Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery, Cary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any Habitat for Humanity or AMVETS Post 202.