Richard "Dick" Gillen

John Richard "Dick" Gillen, age 80, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 4: 25 a.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2009, at the Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth. Dick was born on May 13, 1929, in Monmouth, the son of Edward T. and Kathryn Gavin Gillen. Dick was raised in Monmouth, attended Monmouth Schools and graduated from Monmouth High School in 1947. He served in the United States Army. Dick married Karen O'Connor on January 13, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois. Dick farmed for a number of years. Dick was a salesman and broker for Colonial Realty, now Monmouth Farm and Home Realty until his retirement. Dick was a people person and always enjoyed visiting. He never knew a stranger. Surviving Dick are his wife Karen Gillen of Monmouth, one daughter Colleen (Roger) Lipes of Monmouth, three sons, Greg (Judy) Gillen of LaPorte, Ind., Tom (Marsha) Gillen of Lebanon, Ohio and Shawn (Katie) Gillen of Grand Rapids, Minn.; twelve grandchildren: Ryan, Hayley and Katie Lipes; Megan and Sarah Gillen; Paul, John, Caroline, and Elisabeth Gillen; and Georgia, Lilla, and Scarlett Gillen. Also surviving are five sisters, Katherine Mills of Monmouth, Margaret Sullivan of Galesburg, Lucille Gillen of Monmouth, Francis (Ralph) Elliott of Monmouth and Betty (Mike) Hennenfent of Smithshire, Ill., two brothers: Leroy (Helen) Gillen and George (Mary) Gillen both of Monmouth and one sister-in-law Marian Gillen also of Monmouth as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him are his parents, one sister Mary Weber and one brother William "Bud" Gillen. Services:Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at Immaculate Conception Church in Monmouth. Rosary will be recited at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with visitation to follow. Interment with military honors will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Monmouth. A memorial fund is being established for his granddaughter Katie's "Special Needs Trust"