Richard "Dick" D. DeMay

Richard (Dick) DeMay, 82, of East Moline, formerly of Annawan, passed away on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Illini Restorative Care, Silvis, IL.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 19, 2024, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Atkinson.  Reverend Stephen S. Engelbrecht will officiate.  Visitation will be from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Atkinson.  Memorials may be directed to Annawan-Alba Fire & Rescue Squad, St. Anthony Church, or East End Bolders Club.

Richard was born January 20, 1941, in Annawan, to John and Irene (Sierens) DeMay.  He graduated from Annawan High School and participated in all sports but excelled at baseball.  He attended Greer Technical Institute and operated heavy equipment building roads, but finally settled on a steadier job at International Harvester in East Moline, where he was employed for twenty years.  He finished his career with John Deere and Uniparts Olsen in Eldridge.  Dick liked to work and keep busy.  He raised hogs on the family farm and had many experiences with his brothers, Ron, Dave, and Dale.  While working he served in the National Guard – Kewanee for five years.  Dick married Colleen Hays in 1962, at St. Mary’s Church in Hooppole.  He became a hunting enthusiast in mid-life, hunting fowl, elk, and especially deer.  He joined the G.T.F.O. Club in Victoria, IL, and hunted and cared for the property as an unofficial caretaker, which gave him joy.  He enjoyed rolle bolle and lived a full active life with friends, but especially with family.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Colleen DeMay; son, Quinlan (Rebecca) DeMay; and grandchildren, Peter, Dylan, Ainslie, and Aleksander DeMay; brothers, Ron (Donna) DeMay, Dave (Bonnie) DeMay, and Dale (DeMay).

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, John and Irene DeMay; and sister-in-law, Dorothy DeMay.