Richard Pierce

Richard A. Pierce, 84, of Moline, Illinois, long tiem Moline fireman, died Sunday, March 15, 2015, in UnityPoint Health - Trinity Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois.

Masonic Services, by Moline Lodge #1014 AF & AM, are 7 p.m. Thursday in the Horizon Room at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, with a family-led memorial service following. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory. Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Richard Alan Pierce was born March 26, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to Harold Lafayette and Anne Catherine (Hodgson) Pierce. He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1947, and married Bessie Jane Rasmussen on April 17, 1949, in Moline. Dick retired from the Moline Fire Department as Assistant Fire Chief in 1987. He served the fire department for 32 years, and was previously Engineer, Lieutenant, and Captain. He was a partner in 3R Painting.

Dick and his wife were Feature Editors and Photographers for Midwest Outdoors magazine since 1977. He did all the photograph copying for two editions of "Moline: A Pictorial History" in 1980 and 1991, and was a lapidarist, a silversmith, and an oil painter. He was a member of Moline Lodge #1014, AF & AM; a 32nd Degree Mason in Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Moline; and a member of Left Bank Art League, In-Fishermen's Club, and Blackhawk Gem and Mineral Society. He enjoyed fishing, especially in rivers and lakes, and vegetable gardening.

Dick is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bessie; three children and their spouses, Mike and Joan Pierce of Wausau, Wisconsin, Matt and Kari Pierce of Florissant, Missouri, and Mary and Melvin Stevens of Champaign, Illinois; six grandchildren and spouses, Richard H. and Laura Pierce, Sarah and Mark Villanueva, Alex Pierce, Kaitlin Pierce, Melvin Stevens III, and Joseph Stevens; and a great-granddaughter, Sophia Villanueva.

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