Lyle Evan Barnes, a giant of a man, "left his lifelong home in Whitefish to a place where the cows always come home when called." Lyle had lived a brilliant life of 87 years and was surrounded by his four children "when he passed over peacefully to heaven" on Feb. 26, 2014.
Whitefish was the majestic backdrop for Lyle's entire life. He was the first son to Lee and Hazel Barnes and one of six siblings to grow up on the Barnes family farm. Days were spent outside milking cows and bucking bales of hay as a contributing member to the family business, Lone Pine Dairy.
Lyle met his bride, June Helen Tacheny, on the Barnes family farm. These childhood sweethearts are a testament to a love that lasted the generations. The couple would have celebrated 68 years of marriage this year.
Lyle and June built a home and a family alongside the treasured family farm in Whitefish. Lyle spent days mending fence, fixing bailing machines, feeding his cows and loving the land. He worked as a farmer with his father Lee and his brother Jerry. The family land brought people together. In a literal sense, many hands were necessary to get the work done of tending cows and growing alfalfa. But in a deeper, more sacred way, the farm was a place refuge for many.
Lyle's greatest gift in life was the way he loved children. He was not a man of many words; he was a man who lived a life of deep kindness and rich love towards children. He was the greatest man in the world to every child who ever knew him. And so his own children, nieces, nephews and distant cousins all clamored to be on the farm and work the fields just to be near him.
His love of family gave him a fighting spirit that enabled him to triumph over adversity that would have been the end of most men. He won the battle with Hodgkin's disease so that he could raise his baby daughter Lisa Marie. He refused to succumb to a rare flesh-eating virus, cancer, and even running over his own head with a tractor because there were still more dresses to buy for his granddaughters and more games of pinochle to play with his family. As his cancer came back in recent months, he shared with his pastor that he knew he was getting on in years, but he still had so much to do.
Lyle lived a life of strength and independence up until the end. He spent his last birthday surrounded by three generations of family, with his trademark huge grin, on the edge of the sea in Mexico. Lyle lived each day with deep kindness and it was a beautiful life.
Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Hazel Barnes, and granddaughter, Karlee Corena Cysewski.
He is survived by his wife, June Barnes; his children, Vicki Crick, Dale Barnes, Craig Barnes and Lisa Cysewski; as well as sisters, Frances Hatler, Marilee McCutcheon, Carol Larson and Sharon Stone.
A celebration of Lyle's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 3, at at St. Peter Lutheran Church at 201 Wisconsin Avenue in Whitefish.
Instead of sending flowers to the church or family, please consider donating to the Whitefish Food Bank. There was always a mug of soup for anyone who came to Grandpa's house.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lyle Barnes, please visit our flower store.
Whitefish was the majestic backdrop for Lyle's entire life. He was the first son to Lee and Hazel Barnes and one of six siblings to grow up on the Barnes family farm. Days were spent outside milking cows and bucking bales of hay as a contributing member to the family business, Lone Pine Dairy.
Lyle met his bride, June Helen Tacheny, on the Barnes family farm. These childhood sweethearts are a testament to a love that lasted the generations. The couple would have celebrated 68 years of marriage this year.
Lyle and June built a home and a family alongside the treasured family farm in Whitefish. Lyle spent days mending fence, fixing bailing machines, feeding his cows and loving the land. He worked as a farmer with his father Lee and his brother Jerry. The family land brought people together. In a literal sense, many hands were necessary to get the work done of tending cows and growing alfalfa. But in a deeper, more sacred way, the farm was a place refuge for many.
Lyle's greatest gift in life was the way he loved children. He was not a man of many words; he was a man who lived a life of deep kindness and rich love towards children. He was the greatest man in the world to every child who ever knew him. And so his own children, nieces, nephews and distant cousins all clamored to be on the farm and work the fields just to be near him.
His love of family gave him a fighting spirit that enabled him to triumph over adversity that would have been the end of most men. He won the battle with Hodgkin's disease so that he could raise his baby daughter Lisa Marie. He refused to succumb to a rare flesh-eating virus, cancer, and even running over his own head with a tractor because there were still more dresses to buy for his granddaughters and more games of pinochle to play with his family. As his cancer came back in recent months, he shared with his pastor that he knew he was getting on in years, but he still had so much to do.
Lyle lived a life of strength and independence up until the end. He spent his last birthday surrounded by three generations of family, with his trademark huge grin, on the edge of the sea in Mexico. Lyle lived each day with deep kindness and it was a beautiful life.
Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Hazel Barnes, and granddaughter, Karlee Corena Cysewski.
He is survived by his wife, June Barnes; his children, Vicki Crick, Dale Barnes, Craig Barnes and Lisa Cysewski; as well as sisters, Frances Hatler, Marilee McCutcheon, Carol Larson and Sharon Stone.
A celebration of Lyle's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 3, at at St. Peter Lutheran Church at 201 Wisconsin Avenue in Whitefish.
Instead of sending flowers to the church or family, please consider donating to the Whitefish Food Bank. There was always a mug of soup for anyone who came to Grandpa's house.