Richard “Dick” L. Whistler, 80, of Garden Plain, IL, died Thursday, May 16, 2019, at Resthave Care & Rehabilitation, in Morrison, IL, after a 2.5 year battle with cancer.
Dick was born June 19, 1938, in Morrison, to Charles and Frances (Vogel) Whistler. He was a 1957 graduate of Morrison High School and attended Welding School in Cincinnati, OH. Dick married Maxine A. Sissing on June 17, 1960, in Fulton, IL. Dick first worked for Baird Tank in Clinton, IA, then at Alldritts Quarry, Brinkman and Pessman Lumber Company, and Drives, Inc. in Fulton. He then started farming with his father-in-law, which became his lifelong passion. Dick was a member of First Reformed Church in Fulton and was a member of the Whiteside County Farm Bureau. He was a hard worker who dearly loved farming and working in the great outdoors. He enjoyed hunting and snow. His passion was flying through the snow on his Polaris snowmobile.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine; two daughters, Lori (Dale Belt) Neighbour of Morrison, and Tammy (Ken) Laursen of Wheatland, IA; four grandchildren, Nathan and Brandon Neighbour, both of East Moline, IL, Kristall Laursen of Broomfield, CO, and Lance Laursen of Wheatland, IA; one sister, Nancy (Dick) Kneip of Lees Summit, MO.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, William “Bill” H. Whistler; his stepfather, Edwin Meiners; one step-brother, Kenneth Meiners; one niece, Angela Kneip.
His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, Fulton, IL, with Ken Renkes officiating.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, May 20, 2019, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, Fulton, IL.
Interment will be at Garden Plain Cemetery in rural Fulton, IL.
Memorials have been established to First Reformed Church in Fulton and the American Cancer Society.