Leo Clerkin, age 90, of Barneveld went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. He was born on the 19th of July, 1935 to Peter and Mary Clerkin in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Leo always said he had a good life. He grew up during the great depression and loved to talk about the ways he and his family made life work with what they had. He grew up on a dairy farm and attended a one room school house until he was in 7th grade when he and his family moved to a farm in the Barneveld School District. He attended Barneveld Public School and enjoyed playing football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Barneveld Public School in 1953.
During high school Leo hauled cans of milk for a local cheese factory, after high school he worked for Bill Thousand, Barneveld Gas and Electric installing televisions, which had just been invented. In March of 1955 he joined the army and served during the Korean war. When he was home on his first leave, from the army, he married his wife of 71 years, Norene (Reuter), whom he started dating in high school. They lived their first two years of married life in San Antonio, Texas, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Fort Riley in Kansas and finally Fort Eustice in Virginia where he served in the surgical unit.
After the service Leo became a dairy farmer, something he always wanted to do. After 3 years of renting, he and his wife purchase the Shelby Raisebeck farm north of Barneveld. They farmed until 1983 when Leo’s issues with his back caused him to sell the farm and build a home near the farm. He found a career taking care of the Summit Apartments property in Barneveld. He enjoyed getting to know the residents over the years, even after he no longer took care of the property, many were his friends. He also began driving bus for the Mt. Horeb School District and the Barneveld Public School District. He did serve as the bus coordinator for the Barneveld School District and was proud he was able to stop the purchase of the bus service to a private company while serving as coordinator. In 2018, the year he retired from bus driving and received a certificate of appreciation for his 30 years of service to the state of Wisconsin as a bus driver.
Leo had passion for sports, he enjoyed professional, college and high school sports. His children were active in sports in high school and he enjoyed watching them play, but his greatest enjoyment was watching his grandchildren play basketball and baseball. He was proud to watch his granddaughters play in the Wisconsin State Basketball tournament and become state champs. His grandchildren played for Barneveld and Pecatonica schools which kept him finding balance between the two rival schools.
Golf was a passion Leo discovered in his forties. He spent many hours playing golf at Deer Valley Golf Course in Barneveld. Then he started taking trips to Florida, in January, with his brothers to play golf, this tradition lasted for 20 years.
Leo was a devout catholic and served as a lector for 50 years, was on the building committee after the Barneveld tornado and served on church council. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Community was important to Leo, he was a member of the American Legion, member of the Barneveld Advancement Association and drove ambulance for 10 years for the Barneveld Rescue Squad. He received honors as well, Outstanding Young Farmer, Iowa County, Wisconsin, Parade Marshall for the Barneveld Fair parade, inductee into the Barneveld Athletic Hall of Fame, Knight of Columbus Council #10905 Family of the Year and his most cherished honor was the dedication in the Barneveld School yearbook.
He is survived by his wife Norene, his children, Greg (Heidi), Mike (Mary Jo), Diane Beckmann (Don Hipwood), Pat (Sue), Carol Nortman (Paul), Frank, Linda Hendrickson (Steve), Helen Ramdsen (Rob), 29 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren. He is further survived by his brothers Tom, Bob (Julie) and sister Donna. Sister-in-laws Pat Bowen, Connie (Roger) Evers and Cindy Reuter. Sister-in-law Veronica Reuter, Bob (Diane) Reuter, Richard (Linda) Reuter and many nieces and nephew. In addition lifelong friends Doug and Judy Johnson.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter J and Mary Clerkin, grandparents, Louis and Amelia Trainor and Peter Sr and Dorthea Clerkin, uncles; Allen Clerkin, Leo, Frank, John, Jerome, Peter and Bill Trainor, aunts; Adella and Cecila Clerkin, Eileen, Barb, Catherine Trainor, Regina Burns. Siblings; two stillborn brothers, William and Dorothy. Brother-in laws John Bowen and Richard (Cy) Smith, sisters-inlaw Mary Clerkin and Kathleen Clerkin.
Thank you to Jess and Sheri from Agrace Hospice for the care and compassion and Michele Gruenenfelder, PA-C for all of your care through the years
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH in Barneveld. Burial will be held in St. Bridget’s Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors accorded by the Barneveld American Legion Post No. 433. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. on Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Leo Clerkin family which will be shared with local charities.