Jack Barry

SHEFFIELD — John “Jack” Joseph Barry, 78, of Sheffield died at 8:50 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at his home.

Jack was born Feb. 19, 1931, in Sheffield, the son of John and Margaret (Kane) Barry. He married Elizabeth “Wink” Golby on Jan. 14, 1956, at Visitation Church in Kewanee. She survives, as do a son, John Patrick Barry of Sheffield; a daughter, Katie Curran of Kewanee; a granddaughter, Abbey Curran; two sisters, Barbara Bush of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Margaret “Peg” (Joseph) Schmitt of Sheffield; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy Maes; and a sister in infancy, Kathleen.

He graduated from Sheffield High School in 1948. He served his country in the Marines as a corporal of the 1st Marine Division during the Korean Conflict. He was the postmaster at the U.S. Post Office in Sheffield until his retirement in 1994. In earlier years, he had worked for Walter Whipple Chevrolet and the Mineral Oil Co.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Sheffield American Legion, Wyanet VFW and the Sheffield Knights of Columbus. He was proud of being a horse lover and was a member of the Illinois Harness Horse Association. With his horse, Eva’s Princess, he holds the track record at Princeton. He was also second in the Illinois State Championship in Springfield with the same horse. He also enjoyed his family and his farm in Neponset.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheffield. Celebrants will be the Revs. Jerry Logan, Gerard VerHoye and Robert Prendergast. Burial will be in Floral Hill Cemetery, Neponset, where military rites will be accorded.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Rux Funeral Home, Kewanee, with a rosary being recited at 3 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church or the Sheffield Rescue Squad.

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.