Lesley A. Bates

Lesley Allan Bates, 87, of Machesney Park, IL passed away on Monday, October 14, 2024. Les was born on September 24, 1937, in LaCrosse, WI to William and Kathryn (Armoto) Bates. He worked on the family farm until joining the US Army, serving from November 1955 to October 1958, remaining on Reserve status until November 1961. He was stationed in Germany for most of his active duty and earned a Marksmanship badge. His Army friend, Darrell, introduced him to his future wife. He married Catherine Ann Ainsworth on November 22, 1958, and they shared 54 years together before she passed away in 2013. They had five children, Lesley, Jr., Shawn, Tanya, Annetta, and Tamara.  

Les worked at Barber Colman Company for 40 years. He loved spending time with family, playing cards and fishing. He spent many summers with family at their cabin in Northern Wisconsin where he fished with his brother, Bill, and the extended families gathered in the evening to play cards. Later in life he enjoyed playing cribbage. 

He is survived by his children, Shawn (Debi) Bates, Tanya Peterson, Annetta (Barry) Drager, Tamara (James) Hardin; grandchildren, Jaci, Erik (Kelly), Kyle (Julie), Elyse (Katey), Morgan, Tim (Jame), Brandon and Bailey; great-grandchildren, Maurice and Raymond; sisters, Lorraine (Bob), Marlene, Marilyn (Bob); many nieces and nephews; and very special friends, Dave and Mary Herbst. Predeceased by his parents; wife, Catherine; son, Lesley, Jr.; granddaughter, Kelsey; brother, Bill; and sisters, Dorothy, Elenor, and Kay.

Memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2024, with a visitation from 1:00 pm until the time of service at Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory, 4311 N. Mulford Road, Loves Park, IL 61111. A reception will follow the service at Sam's Ristorante, 6075 Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, for a time to gather and remember our dad.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Les’s name to the American Diabetes Association.

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