Richard Aleshire, Sr.

Richard Norman Aleshire, Sr.

Dicknbsp;was reunited in heaven with his mother and fathernbsp;on Februarynbsp;19, 2012 at the age of 81. nbsp;He diednbsp;from complications due tonbsp;thenbsp;leukemianbsp;(ALL)nbsp;that he battled for three years. nbsp;He was born on May 4, 1930, the only child ofnbsp;Arthurnbsp;Alfrednbsp;andnbsp;Laurettanbsp;(Bockley) Aleshire,nbsp;in Springfield, Ohio and raised in Ashland, Ohio. nbsp;Henbsp;graduated fromnbsp;Ashland High School in 1948 and then attendednbsp;Miami Universitynbsp;of Ohionbsp;for three years before entering the Army in 1951. nbsp;He did his basic training in Colorado and was part of the German occupation force stationed innbsp;Kaiserslautern, Germany. nbsp;The Army trained himnbsp;as a Chief Draftsman. nbsp;After his discharge in 1953 he met and married the love of his life, Mary Ellennbsp;Fishpaw. nbsp;He entered Purdue University where henbsp;received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1955. nbsp;His time in Colorado during boot camp influenced him to return to Denver where he joined Sundstrand Aviation. nbsp;He enjoyednbsp;a 36 year careernbsp;with Sundstrandnbsp;as an Engineernbsp;and Manager, transferring fromnbsp;Denvernbsp;tonbsp;Rockford, Illinoisnbsp;in 1963,nbsp;retiring in 1991. nbsp;Over the yearsnbsp;Dicknbsp;enjoyed singing in the church choirsnbsp;ofnbsp;both Alpinenbsp;Lutheran Churchnbsp;and Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Rockford. nbsp;After retirement he spent many hoursnbsp;volunteering at the Rockford Discovery Center. nbsp;Thenbsp;doll housenbsp;therenbsp;that thousands ofnbsp;childrennbsp;have enjoyed playing withnbsp;was lovingly builtnbsp;by Dick with inspiration from his granddaughters.nbsp;nbsp;He isnbsp;precedednbsp;in death by his parents and his brotherinlaw Johnnbsp;P.nbsp;Fishpaw. nbsp;He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; children,nbsp;Richard N. and Robertanbsp;L.nbsp;(Haney) Aleshire, Jr. of Kokomo, Indiana; Arthur A. Aleshire of Portland, Maine; Kevin C.nbsp;and Julie (Martin)nbsp;Aleshire of St. Louis, Missouri; Robert J.nbsp;Aleshire of Rockford, Illinois; grandchildren,nbsp;Jennifernbsp;A.nbsp;Aleshire,nbsp;Sarahnbsp;L. (Jake) Morgan,nbsp;Adamnbsp;M.nbsp;Aleshire,nbsp;Lauranbsp;E. Aleshire, Josephnbsp;Matel, andnbsp;Abigail A.nbsp;Aleshire andnbsp;greatgrandchildren,nbsp;Jonasnbsp;D. Morgan,nbsp;Emersennbsp;F.nbsp;Matel,nbsp;andnbsp;baby Morgan,nbsp;due in September.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural Street, Rockford.nbsp; Visitation from 5pm until 7pm Friday at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 North Rockton Avenue, Rockford IL.. and also from 10am until 10:45 Saturday at the church.nbsp; In lieunbsp;of flowersnbsp;pleasenbsp;send donations to the American Heart Association ornbsp;The Leukemia amp; Lymphoma Society.