Richard Arthur Gillespie

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Richard Arthur Gillespie, 89, passed away on August 13, 2017 at Senior Star assisted living facility, surrounded by friends and family. A graveside service with military honors will be held Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 10:00 am at the Rock Island National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Scott County Humane Society. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com. Richard (Dick) was born April 18, 1928, in Chicago, IL, the son of Stewart and Gladys (Johnson) Gillespie. He spent most of his childhood in Pittsfield, IL. He lived in various communities in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Michigan before graduating from Ann Arbor High School in Ann Arbor, MI in 1946. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1946-1948. Upon completion of military service he graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, School of Commerce, in 1952. He talked fondly of staying in a Quonset hut for a dorm with all the other soldiers returning from WWII. Later in life he went back to complete a Master of Science Contract and Procurement Management degree from the Florida Institute of Technology offered through the Rock Island Arsenal. He worked as a contract manager for the Rock Island Arsenal, in the U.S., Vietnam and Saudi Arabia and remained involved in real estate in the Quad City area into his retirement. He enjoyed renovating rental properties in Davenport and recently sold his properties to many of his tenants. He was an avid reader and loved animals, especially his cat George who he adopted from the Scott County Humane Society. He married Margaret Gillespie in 1954 and they were married for more 20 years, then Lynn Gillespie; Richard spent the last 30 years with the love of his life, Beatrice “Bea” Kruse who passed away over a year ago. Richard enjoyed traveling the U.S. and abroad with annual trips to Mexico. Friend and caregiver, Helen Kaucher, helped Richard tremendously over the past six years. Helen helped him through injuries, illnesses, moving and ultimately the loss of his beloved Bea. Helen is like family to Richard and his children. He is survived by one sister, Kathleen Peck, son, William Stewart Gillespie (Virginia) of McCausland, IA, foster son, Randy Slyter (Linda) of Sun City, CA, daughter Anne Marie Gillespie of Carmel, IN; and daughter Jennifer Lee (Gillespie) Connelly (Victor) of Louisville, KY; Grandchildren Angela (Gillespie) Johnson and Felicia Ann Gillespie (Damien) of Davenport, and five great grandchildren, Tabitha, Sabrina, Hunter, John and Hanna ; He was preceded in death by his parents, aunts, uncles, nephew, and great grandson, Stewart Olson. Sincere thank you to the staff at Senior Star for taking such wonderful care of Richard this year.