Bob Monroe Barrett passed peacefully from this life in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 11, 2019, to finally meet Jesus and have all his questions answered. Bob spent the last 3 months of his life wisely: surrounding himself with a multitude of family and friends, sharing precious memories, entertaining with his quick wit, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Bob came to realize and understand the importance of his deep faith and reliance on God’s strength most especially during the last months of his life and felt the importance of sharing the story of his salvation with everyone he encountered during that time.

Bob was born on June 27, 1949 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Nathaniel Monroe Barrett and Olive Ernestine (Miller) Barrett. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1976 and served aboard the USS Acadia and the USS Lynde McCormick. His naval career consisted of operations in the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and on Diego Garcia Island. He also served 2 tours as an Electronics Technician Instructor at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Bob was stationed at Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily, Italy when he retired from his naval career, with the rank of Senior Chief, in 1996. It was in Italy that Bob learned to scuba dive and developed a love for the sport that would lead him to become a Master Scuba Dive Instructor, logging over 1000 dives in his lifetime. It was as a dive instructor that Bob met his wife, Sandie Arreguin, early in 2000, and the two were married in an underwater ceremony in Cozumel in 2005. In addition to his wife, Bob eventually certified over 200 people, including his granddaughter and many close friends. Bob enjoyed connecting with others via ham radio and developed many lifelong friendships with people who shared his same passion. As a teenager, Bob raised and raced homing pigeons, a sport that he rediscovered in his later years, eventually owning over 400 birds. Bob developed an interest in genealogy in the recent years, a hobby that led him to the discovery of a long-lost cousin, Helen Ford, whom he formed a very special bond with and was able to meet before his passing.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Barbara, and his beloved dog, Sammie Jo.

He is survived by his wife, Sandie Arreguin-Barrett; his son, Brett; a special daughter, Ellen Hansen; his step-children, Joe (Aimee) Arreguin, Michelle (John) Bychowski, Edie (Christian) Camus and Chad Arreguin; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his dogs, Sammie Tzu and Daisy and many cherished friends.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Northern Illinois Funeral Services. The family will host a Celebration of Life gathering on Saturday, June 8, 2019. The celebration will be held at Wesley Church, 3601 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan, IL beginning at noon with a military honors ceremony, followed by a service and luncheon.