Richard Lynes

Richard J. Lynes

Age 88 of Wilmington, passed away Tuesday March 25, 2008 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee.

Born December 20, 1919 in Morris, Richard was a son of the late Richard and Julia Hansen-Lynes. He was raised and educated in Morris and in 1942 entered into the United States Marine Corps, where he served his country during World War II in Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Saipan. Richard was awarded the 2nd Marine Division Presidential Unit Citation for the Battle of Tarawa, the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart for his extraordinary heroism and wounds received at the Battle of Saipan prior to being honorably discharged in 1945. Richard was the highest decorated Marine from World War II in Grundy County and was a member of the Morris American Legion. He was a member of Ironworkers Local 444 in Joliet for over 50 years, and having joined the Ironworkers at an early age, Richard worked on the first steel bridge to cross the Kankakee River in Wilmington. After his retirement Richard moved to Wilmington, after residing in the Morris and Coal City areas, and upon the decline of his health became a resident at the Illinois Veterans Home in Manteno on January 31, 2006.

Survivors include his loving daughters: Sandra (Charles) Marshall and Susan (Mike) Esposito, both of Wilmington; one brother Paul of California; six grandchildren: Katherine (John) Walsh, Carol (Jeff) Treadman, Mickey (Beth a�" fiancAC.e) Esposito, Michelle (Billy) Moser, Mike Esposito and Rose (Mike) Domark; (13) Great Grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife and the mother of his children Jeanne; his second wife Genevieve Matthews; two sisters: Regina Murphy and Helen Fraley; two brothers: Marvin and Robert Lynes and two grandsons: Joey Marshall and Dave Gretz, Jr.

Visitation will be held on Sunday March 30, 2008 between the hours of 4:00PM and 7:00PM and Monday March 31st from 9:30AM until time of funeral service 10:30AM at Reeves Funeral Home, 219 North Joliet Street (two blocks North of Illinois Route 53 / Baltimore Street) in Wilmington. Deacon Don Dyer will officiate the services, and burial with full military honors will follow in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.

Friends may sign the online guest book by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Preferred memorials in lieu of flowers may be made as gifts in Richards's memory to the Illinois Veterans Home in Manteno.

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction of Reeves Funeral Home in Wilmington, (815/476-7621)