Earl A. Higgins, 68, ofMilanpassed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. Earl received a lung transplant on August 20, 2014 and fought a courageous and brave battle to regain his health for his family. He later passed away from complications due to cancer. Services for Earl will be 10:30 am, Tuesday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church,Milan. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 pm at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home,Milan. Burial will be in theRock IslandNationalCemetery, where military honors will be conducted by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 299. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 299.

Earl was born on June 23, 1946 in Chicago, a son of Paul and Marjorie (Carlyle) Higgins. He married Kathy "Stretch" Helling on April 7, 1984 in Rock Island. Earl worked for the Rock Island County Highway Department for over 30 years, retiring in 2006. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving with the 101st Airborne, 1st Calvary Division inVietnam from 1966 to 1968. He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church,Milan, NRA, John Birch Society, Milan American Legion Post No. 569, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 299, Eureka Masonic Lodge No. 69 AF & AM, Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Moline, and Teamsters Local No. 371,Rock Island. Earl served as union steward forRock IslandCounty for many years. He won the Milan Beautification Award and was proud growing up a "West Ender". He was awarded Best Snow Plow Driver by the residents of Loud Thunder.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy; daughters, Megan Higgins, Milan, Jennifer Higgins and her fiancé, Cory Bote, Milan, and Hannah Higgins, Milan; his first granddaughter, Vivienne Marie Bote; brothers, Paul Higgins, Milan, and Michael Higgins, Rock Island; a special friend, Charlie Foy, who helped Earl's family during his illness.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents. Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com