Obituary of Leroy Edward Barnthouse

Leroy "Lee" Edward Barnthouse II, 52, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 20, 2020 at home. Lee was born January 25, 1968; the son of Vicki (Brown) Barnthouse and Hager Barnthouse, Sr. He is survived by his parents; his fiancé: Marges Razon; brother: Hager Barnthouse, Jr.; sister: Yvonne Halunen and her boyfriend, Christopher Regis; beloved nieces: Madison Barnthouse and Bailey Halunen; nephews: Brandon Barnthouse, Michael Halunen, and Jacob Halunen. Lee will be forever known and remembered for his gentle soul, wonderfully quirky spirit, marvelous sense of humor, thoughtful generosity and ability to make his friends and family laugh with his unique take on life and this world. He loved animals of all kinds, but was particularly found of his cat, Daphne. A talented artist and writer, Lee assisted his family in multiple business capacities and always brought a fresh perspective to the many designs he created and words he crafted. He was an avid and enthusiastic reader and devoured everything from comic-books to fiction, especially the works of Stephen King, with equal amounts of eagerness and pleasure. A dedicated comic-book collector and enthusiast all of his life, Lee amassed a considerably valuable collection of books, figurines and collectibles for which he held immense pride. Accordingly, he was fond of frequenting comic-book stores and conventions where he would discuss the world of comics with artists and creators, such as Stan Lee, and rarely left those interactions without a new friend and a signature on his carefully and shrewdly selected materials he brought with him. Lee was a big-hearted, kind and sweet person who went out of his way to make friends, especially the vulnerable and marginalized in society, and made certain everyone felt included. He was also incredibly grateful and thankful whenever anyone was kind to him, which made him a pleasure to be around. Most of all, and the true measure of a life well-lived, Lee was deeply loved by his family and his friends. Although, his light has gone from our lives way too soon - and the world seems a little less bright without him in it - he will be missed, and never forgotten as we remember him and hold him in our hearts and look forward to being reunited with him someday. A memorial service is planned at the Englewood Community Funeral Home, 3070 South McCall Road, Englewood, on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. Family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to service time at 3:30 PM. As Lee was a supporter of animal causes locally, the family suggests that those choosing to make a memorial contribution make it to their local animal shelter, Humane Society or animal rescue. You may share a memory with the family at www.englewoodfh.com