Barbara 'Barb' Leonard

Barbara F. Leonard was a gifted and creative woman with a generous spirit. She loved to give of her time and talents to her work, her community, a worthy cause, and her precious grandchildren. It was not only her talent that pulled people in like a magnet; her positive outlook on life was a reservoir of strength for all those around her. Full of vim and vigor, Barb enjoyed every moment life had to offer, yet there was no greater joy along her life’s journey than being with her beloved family. She was deeply devoted to caring for her children and grandchildren, who have now become her greatest legacy.

Barbara was born at St. Francis Hospital in Kewanee, Illinois on April 5, 1950. She was the oldest of four children to Paul and Norma (Smith) Bystry. Along with her younger siblings, Michael, David and Susan, Barb grew up in Kewanee surrounded by lots of extended family, and cousins as playmates. Barb attended Visitation Catholic School, and spent many memorable summers at their family cabin on the Rock River, swimming and fishing. A good part of the family’s activities revolved around the family business, Bystry Lumber, which was started by her grandfather after World War II. Most of the men in the family worked at the lumberyard one time or another. When Barb was a teenager, she spent every Saturday working there along side her father.

After graduating from Kewanee High School in 1968, Barb went on to attend Eastern Illinois University, where she earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Education with a minor in Art History. It was while on campus at EIU that Barb met the love of her life, William Leonard, at a fall festival. Obviously smitten, they both forgot to exchange phone numbers, so Bill waited outside her dorm the next day until she came out and with that, their love story had begun. Their first date was to a football game. Hopelessly in love, Barb and Bill were happily married on September 26, 1970, in St. Mary’s Church in Kewanee. Barb treasured this day as one of the most special moments in her life. The “happy” couple spent the next 41 years together, raising their three children: Brian, Cara and Amanda, and sharing many wonderful memories as a family. For Barb, her family was the center of her world, and she derived endless joy from watching her children grow and succeed.

Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Barb was a passionate Art teacher who impacted thousands of young lives during her 33 years of teaching. Her career started at Bonfield/Limestone Grade School in the Herscher School District, where she taught for 17 years. She then moved to the Clifton School District and ultimately retired from the Kankakee School District 111. To fill her down time in the summer, Barb worked in the mornings at the Herscher Post Office for a few years. Barb’s love of art went deep, and although she retired from teaching in 2007, she continued to volunteer in classrooms in Kankakee as well as in her grandchildren’s schools in Southern California.

Having a strong family was always important to Barb. While she was dedicated to her students, Barb and Bill, together with their three children, created a rich and dynamic family life. There were so many wonderful family vacations that Barb put her heart into planning, making it special from the start to the finish. They took week long trips to scenic resorts that had something for everyone, and every night the kids got a special souvenir to mark the milestone of their trip. One of Barb’s favorite trips was to Disney World, but what made it so special was when they stopped in the Smokey Mountains for a picnic in the park or to wade in a creek. These unforgettable memories will forever be treasures of their hearts.

The holidays were another special (and important) part of Barb’s life. Christmas was above all her favorite, and she worked all year long to make it special for everyone. There were long traditions that had to be followed, like everyone got a new ornament each year (starting from when they were born). The meals for the holidays were also set in stone – Christmas Eve was fondue, Christmas morning was eggs benedict, the New Year was rung in with fresh jambalaya, and the Fourth of July was not complete without a big barbeque and fireworks. Barb didn’t just throw parties though - she made them unforgettable events (like each of her daughters’ weddings). Recently, the family committed to walk in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes in honor of their youngest grandson who has Type 1 diabetes. Barb quickly went to work making lanyards, bracelets and other personalized items for the family to wear on the walk. Last week, she started preparing t-shirts for her husband Bill to wear when he participates in the Ride to Cure Diabetes. Nothing was too much when it came to her loved ones.

Being a grandmother was the highpoint in Barb’s life, and she adored her 7 grandchildren, Leo, Dylan, Brooke, Dakota, Lance, Drew and Lucas. She spent hours working on picture projects of them and spending care packages full of love. With a passion for photography, Barb had countless pictures of her family and grandchildren, and each celebrated milestone had its own photo album as a reminder of her commitment to family. If that wasn’t enough, Barb also assembled a photo calendar every year, complete with birth dates and special upcoming events.

Barb always found time to be active in her community too. She was a member of the Junior League, Friends of the Limestone Library, Herscher Parks Society, CASA, the Gallery of Trees and the Gretchen Charleston Art Gallery. She also painted the Kankakee County Barn Quilts and there was never a Herscher Labor Day parade that Barb didn’t have some part in the floats. A real card shark, Barb played in a Bridge Club, and never missed an outing with her friends. In her quieter moments, Barb loved to read mystery novels, watch sports and identify birds at her feeders, and doing crafts with her grandchildren. A big dog lover, she enjoyed the company of her two Cocker Spaniels, Quincy and Asia, and her Australian Shepard, Sam that she rescued from the cold. What gave Barb the greatest joy was sharing herself with her family, offering them the most precious thing she possessed – her time. It is a gift none of them will ever forget.

Barb will be deeply missed while her memory remains forever near and dear to all our hearts.

Barbara Faye Leonard, age 62, of Kankakee, IL, passed away on Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Riverside Medical Center. Barb is survived by her husband, Bill, of 41 years; three children: Brian (Patty) Leonard of Littleton, CO, Cara Johnston of Kankakee, IL and Amanda (Scott) Cline of Nisswa, MN; her two brothers, Michael Bystry and David (Ladosha) Bystry; one sister, Susan Brannock; her mother, Norma Bystry; and her seven grandchildren, which were the “sunshine of her life:” Leo, Dakota and Dylan Leonard, Lance and Brook Johnston and Drew and Lucas Cline.

A gathering time for family and friends will be on Wednesday, August 1, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Home, Kankakee Chapel. A funeral service in memory of Barb will be on Thursday, August 2, at 11:00 a.m. at the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Home, Kankakee Chapel. She will be laid to rest at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kewanee, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF), 11 S. La Salle St. Suite 1800, Chicago, IL 60603-1344. Please visit Barb’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory or photo and sign her online guest book.