Bernard R. French

Bernard R. French, 81, of Rock Island, Illinois, died Thursday, January 5, 2017, at Silver Cross Nursing Center, Rock Island.

Services are 11:00 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moline, with The Reverend Larry Conway officiating. Visitation is 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline. Burial is in Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Memorials may be made to the church.

Bernie was born March 14, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Byron and Hazel (Samuelson) French. He married Irma Jean Harkcom on October 18, 1964, in Moline. He worked in advertising, most recently for the Moline Dispatch, retiring in 1996.

He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Moline, singing in the choir and helping with artwork for the church. He was a gifted painter and loved artwork of all kinds. Above all else, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially traveling and going on cruises.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Irma; a daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Patrick Markley of Louisville, Kentucky; a son and daughter-in-law, Timothy and Michelle French of Dubuque, Iowa; five grandchildren, Kenna and Ella Markley, Emily French and her fiancé, Brian Ensign, and Nick and Michael French; and a sister, Marilyn Edmondson of Petaluma, California.

Visit Bernie's personal tribute page at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com to share stories and condolences, and light a candle in his memory.