John "Rick" Richard Cloninger

John Richard “Rick” Cloninger, 64, of Rock Island, took his last breath, Monday, December 9, 2019 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, while in the arms of his loving wife.  Services are 10 am Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Edgewood Baptist Church, Rock Island.  Visitation will be from 4-6 pm Friday, December 13, 2019 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island.  Burial will be at Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the QC Animal Welfare Center, Milan.

Rick was born in Moline on December 6, 1955, the son of John and Virginia Allen Cloninger.  He played varsity baseball and basketball at Rock Island High School, graduating in 1973.

Rick worked for IH Farmall Works, Rock Island and was also an ambulance EMT.  Most recently, he retired in 2017 from the Rock Island Milan School District as a maintenance engineer.

Rick married Christine Wheeler in 1986. Later, he married Eileen Golz and in 1993 welcomed a child, Katie, with pride and joy. In October 2019, Rick remarried Christine, reconnecting after many years apart.  They are living proof that love knows no bounds.

Rick loved fishing and was a champion bass fisherman.  He also loved physical fitness with marathon running and body building as two of his many fitness accomplishments.  Rick loved coaching sports while his daughter was young, and had coached many teams in the early 2000’s. He had a love for dogs and volunteered at the QC Animal Welfare Center where he found his canine companion Kodi.

Survivors include his wife, Christine Cloninger; parents, John and Virginia Cloninger; his one and only child, Katie Cloninger; sister, Mary (Trent) Marquis; nieces, Sara Morrow and Emily Dewez; canine companion, Kodi; and many loving family and friends.

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