Lester R. Hallquist

Lester R. Hallquist, 89, of East Moline, Illinois, died Wednesday, July 2, 2014.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Monday at First Christian Church, Moline, Illinois. Burial is in Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Memorials may be made to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

Lester Robert Hallquist was born in Moline on August 5, 1924, to Leslie "Buck" and Sophia Young Hallquist. He attended Moline Schools. He proudly served our country in the US Army Air Force during World War Il from 1943-1946 as an airplane and engine mechanic. He married Loretta Gainey on April 4, 1945, in Moline. When he met her for the first time, he told his brother, "That's the girl I'm going to marry." He did. They were happily married for 69 years.

He served on the Moline Fire Department for 27 years, retiring as Lieutenant in 1979. He also owned and operated a family business, Hallquist Maytag Repair, for many years. After giving that business to his son-in-law, he worked at Duck Creek Golf Course in the clubhouse as a cook on the morning shift. His breakfast menu was a favorite with the early day golfers.

He was privileged to take part in an Honor Flight in October, 2009. It was important to him to see the World War Il Memorial. He was an avid Chicago Bears fan, and an even bigger fan of his family. He also accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at the age of 88. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Lester is survived by his wife, Loretta; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie and Joseph Kaczor of Milan, Illinois, and Vicki and Daniel Raney of Moline; five grandchildren and their spouses, Deena and Troy Simpson, Leigh and Robert Medley, Melissa and Chad Bohonek, Matthew and Andrea Raney, and Nicholas Raney; and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Richard Hallquist, and a sister, Betty Beldin.

Lester's family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.