Richard L. ‘Dick’ Barten

Richard L. “Dick” Barten, 72, of Manhattan, passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. Born on October 11, 1950, in Joliet, he was the son of Harold and Fern (Ruetz) Barten.

Graduating from Peotone High School, Class of 1968, Dick was a lifelong member of the Peotone and Manhattan communities and some friends and neighbors fondly will remember he was a founder of the Green Garden Summer Fest of 1973. Dick was a proud member of Teamsters Union Local 179, working throughout the years as an independent truck driver, then at CDT Landfill, and many years as Supervisor of Maintenance at the Will County Courthouse. Colleagues, friends, and family alike all know Dick was a people person. In each of these roles and truly every day, Dick would take the time to talk to you and get to know you, and you him; he loved to tell stories. It’s from Dick that his girls, one with the gift of gab and the other a trusted and thoughtful listener, can attribute these personality traits.

Dick was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Peotone, where he also taught Sunday School. He enjoyed snow skiing and fishing, but his favorite activity was hunting and spending time at hunting camp with his buddies. Most recently, you often would see Dick driving around Manhattan with his and Linda’s dog, Elvis, often stopping to talk to people along the way! But most of all, Dick loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, and “Pops” was proud to cheer them on at school, church, and sporting events.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Linda (Collins) Barten; his two daughters and son-in-law, Rachel Barten and Stacey (Tom) Kosloskus; four grandchildren, Deacon, Gage, Abbey, and Reagan; sisters, Donna (Danny) Geiss and Debbi Barten-South; brothers-in-law, Lee Younker and Ed Cooper; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Abigail Denise Barten (December 27, 1995); and sisters, Cheryl Younker and Sandy Cooper.

Funeral services were held on September 27, at Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home, with Pastor Jeff Abell officiating. Cremation rites accorded following all services. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorials to the Peotone Cemetery Association.

Share a memory at www.feddehelfrichcrossfh.com.