Richard A. “Dick” Bland, 79, of Fulton, IL, died Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at Genesis Medical Center East in Davenport, IA.
Dick was born June 18, 1937, in Galesburg, IL, to John H. and Florence M. (Johnson) Bland. He was educated in the Sandwich, IL, grade schools and was a 1955 graduate of Sandwich High School. Dick served in the U. S. Navy. He married Irma L. Renkes on October 28, 1960, at Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton. Dick was first employed by National Tea Grocery Store in Morrison, IL, and most recently as a letter carrier by the U. S. Postal Service Fulton office. Following retirement, he worked as a school bus driver for the River Bend School District. Dick was a former member of Trinity Reformed Church in Fulton, where he served as deacon and elder. He was a current member of First Reformed Church in Fulton. Dick served as Trustee and former Supervisor for Fulton Township and a volunteer for de Immigrant, Fulton’s Windmill. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing, traveling, and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Irma; two daughters, Lynelle (Rich) Criss of Morrison, and Jana (Kevin) Dilks of Altoona, IA; one son, Jeffry (Wendy) Bland of Windham, ME; 14 grandchildren, Brittany (Matt) VanDrew, Allysa Criss, Shauna (David) Fazio, Sara (Adam) Driscoll, Lauryn Dilks, Tierra Dilks, Chris Dilks, James Dilks, Charlee Gathercole, Cheyenne Dilks, Cassidy Dilks, Abby Bland, Emily Bland, and Jonathan Bland; ten great-grandchildren; three brothers, John R. “Jack” (Susan) Bland of Morrison, Dennis Bland of Rock Island, IL, and David (Chris) Bland of Pensacola, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter-in-law, Linda Roman-Bland; one brother, Kenneth Bland.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 3, 2017, at First Reformed Church, Fulton, IL
OFFICIATING: Rev. Edie Lenz, Pastor of First Reformed Church
VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 2, 2017, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Fulton Township Cemetery, Fulton, IL
MEMORIAL: First Reformed Church, Fulton, IL