Barry F. Knerr, 79, of Forest Park, Illinois, died at home on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Barry was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 1946, and spent his childhood in Allentown along with his five siblings. His father, Fred, was a machinist, and his mother, Grace, was a homemaker.

After high school, Barry attended Penn State University, majoring in mathematics. It was there that he met and married his first wife, Susan I. (Dreher) Knerr, with whom he shared his sons, Philip W. Knerr and Jay C. Hull.

After graduation, Barry served honorably in the U.S. Navy. He then spent some time in a consulting company, where he created mathematical models of airport noise. He left to earn a Ph.D. in math at Northwestern University, after which he was employed for three years as a math professor at the University of Kentucky. He spent the remainder of his career in the Chicago area as an engineer in the telecommunications industry before retiring in 2011.

Beyond math and physics, Barry had a wide variety of interests: he loved to travel with his family, he enjoyed working with tools and wood, and he was passionate about the game of pool, which he played until the last months of his life. He enjoyed his retirement despite his hard battle with Parkinson's.

In addition to his two children, Barry is survived by his wife, Linda K. "Kathy" Knerr, to whom he was married for 14 years, his siblings Walter L. Knerr (Helen), Kenneth R. Knerr (Roseann), and Nancy Kahler-Jow (Keoni), his sister-in-law, Dorothy "Dottie," widow of his brother Eugene C. Knerr, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Frederick C. and Grace M. (Moyer) Knerr; his first wife, Susan; and his brothers, Frederick G. Knerr and Eugene C. Knerr.

Barry will be remembered for his boundless curiosity and his dedicated and generous spirit.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to the Parkinson's Foundation in Barry's memory.

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