Bernard "Barney" R. Leonard

Bernard R. "Barney" Leonard, of Hale, passed away Saturday September 15, 2012 at the West Branch Regional Medical Center, age 83. The son of the late August and Alice (Dean) Leonard, he was born April 12, 1929 in Bay City. Barney served first as a Merchant Marine and then joined the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving in Guantanamo Bay. He was a member of the American Legion Post #18. Barney retired as the Supervisor of Streets from the City of Bay City and he also retired from the Bay County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy on the River Patrol. He was a former member of Visitation Catholic Church in Bay City and was currently a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Hale. On January 3, 1953 Barney married the former Mary "Ginny" Luepnitz, and she survives him along with a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy "Peewee" and Randall "Berni" Bernard of Bay City; his grandchildren, Trish (C.J.) Jamison, Randall (Ashley) Bernard II, Kyle Dolan and Krista (fiancée, Paul Heppner) Dolan; great-grandchildren, Caylin, Austyn, Anthony, Keegan, Brooks, Brooklynn, Blake, Ocean and Thunder. Besides his parents, Barney was also preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Leonard. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held on Friday September 21, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. Officiating will be Jerry Hegenauer followed by Military Honors conducted by the Bay County Veterans Council. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. www.gephartfuneralhome.com