Richard J. Fidler

Richard J. Fidler, 65, of Farmington passed away peacefully at 8:13pm, Sunday, February 7, 2016, at his home with family members at his side. Dick bravely and valiantly fought prostate cancer for 9 years. Dick was born April 19, 1950, in Canton, IL,  to Leonard G. and Alice (Glynn) Fidler, the 3rd of 5 children. He attended primary school in Smithfield, IL, and graduated from Cuba High School in 1968. He married Bonnie (Hazzard) Morgan on June 29, 1996, in Peoria, IL, she survives.

Also surviving are his children, Rick of Marcellus, MI, Michelle (Jeff) Cornwell of Marcellus, MI, Stephen of Pekin, IL, and his step-daughter, Melissa (Scott) Ritterbush of Walcott, IA; 5 grandchildren, Kyle, Jonah, Felicity, Logan and Taylor, his siblings, Larry (Lois) of Manito, IL, Edward (Liz) of Prescott, AZ, Kathy Fidler of Mapleton, IL, as well as his former wife Linda of Ellisville, IL. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, David (Meta) Hazzard of Charleston, SC, sisters-in-law, Denise Welch of Washington, IL, and Heidi (Rich) Moore of Dunlap, IL, and many nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Patricia A. Leezer, and step-mother, Alice M. Fidler.

He worked for several years for Powerton in Pekin, IL, then studied for the ministry at Taylor University in Fort Wayne, IN. He pastored a church in Fort Wayne before moving to Marcellus, MI, and pastoring at Harmony Chapel there. He often spoke of the enormous satisfaction of that assignment and the joy of sharing his deep faith with others. In the late 1980s Dick returned to Central Illinois and worked for Intermet Foundry in Havana,IL,  for several years, before joining Dynegy Midwest Generation in Havana in 2000 as an electrician. Dick officially retired from Dynegy in April 2015.

Dick loved sports in general, but the Cubs and the Bears specifically, and Ron Santo was his
favorite player. He was an armchair commentator who could equal the media sportscasters any day.  Dick played golf, fished, hunted and loved the outdoors.

We will celebrate Dick’s life on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at Anderson Sedgwick Funeral Home in Farmington with a visitation from 10:30 to noon, followed by a Memorial service at noon. Cremation has been accorded. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to either Illinois Cancer Care, 8940 N. Wood Sage Road, Peoria, IL 61615 or OSF Hospice, 2265 W. Altorfer Drive, Peoria, IL  61515.