Richard G. Rehn

Richard Gene Rehn, 83, of Osco, IL, passed away surrounded by his wife and daughters on January 5, 2025, at MercyOne Genesis, Davenport.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Augustana Lutheran Church, 628 6th St, Andover, IL. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at the church. Burial will be at the Andover Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church. 

Richard was born on May 27, 1941, in Moline, the son of Raymond and Mabel (Peterson) Rehn. He married Sally Kay Stanke on July 3, 1965, in Aurora, Illinois. He graduated from the Osco-Orion Schools in 1959 where he was active in FFA and took pride in being named MVP of the basketball team. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois College of Agriculture in 1963. During college, he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and the Livestock Judging Team. You could occasionally find him playing basketball in Huff Hall with greats like Dave Downey.

After college Richard was the Vo-Ag teacher at Plano High School for five years, where he met his wife. In 1969, he and Sally moved back to the family farm near Osco (God’s country) where he was a grain and livestock farmer for the remainder of his life. He enjoyed mentoring young farmers and delighted in watching them succeed. He often had a faithful farm dog by his side. His love of Angus cattle ran deep, and he was a proud member of the American Angus Association for seventy-two years. Richard rarely missed the Henry County Fair, whether it was to help his daughters show livestock or just watch shows. For twenty-two years, Richard traveled to the National Western Stock Show in Denver and collected a hat from The Yards to commemorate each trip. 

Richard was a lifetime member of the Augustana Lutheran Church. He loved recruiting church members to share their faith stories and was moved by each one. He served on the Orion School Board for 16 years and the Gold Star FS Board for 20 years. Richard took great pleasure in annual family vacations and watching his daughters’ school activities. He was passionate about sports, especially the Fighting Illini and Chicago Cubs. For the last decade, he enjoyed spending winter months in Mesa, AZ.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 60 years, Sally; daughters, Wendy (Nick) Rossi, Morris, Ellen (Mark) Shrader, Monmouth, Debby Rehn (Jamie Gibson), Denver, CO, Becky (Ben) Leuck, Coal Valley; grandchildren, Josh Rossi (Kelly Guagenti), Glen Ellyn, Leah, Sarah and Hannah Rossi, all of Morris, Connor, Emily, Ainsley and Riley Leuck, all of Coal Valley, Sophie and Evan Shrader, Monmouth; brothers-in-law, Wayne French, Moline, Roger (Bonnie) Stanke, NJ, Ron Stanke (Julie Sarkissian), WA; sister-in-law, Jean Rehn, Galesburg; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ann French; and brother, Wayne Rehn.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.