Richard L. Gosney Sr., 74, of The Villages, Fla., formerly of Rock Island, Ill., was called to heaven on Sunday, April 12, 2015 surrounded by his adoring family at The Villages Regional Medical Center in The Villages, Fla.

Funeral services will be 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, Ill. Visitation is 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date at the Edgington Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family.

Rich was born to William V. and Mildred Mulch Gosney on February 28, 1941 in Rock Island. He was the youngest child of three sisters, Betty Krebs, Marilyn Hanncock and Mildred Eileen Gosney and two brothers, Pete and Bob. He loved to tell stories of his childhood growing up near his beloved Long View Park in Rock Island. Rich graduated from Rock Island High School in 1959 and married the love of his life Charlene M. (Foster) on July 8, 1961.

He worked as a Civil Engineering Technician at the Rock Island District Corp of Engineers from 1960 to his retirement in 1996.

Rich was the proud father of three children, Sherri Gifford (Mark) from Ellijay, GA, Rick Gosney (Christine) from Taylor Ridge, IL, and Karen DeBacker (Dan) from Orion, IL. He was also the proudest Papa on earth to all of his grandchildren, Sean Bizjack, Michael Gifford and Caleb Gifford; Jordan Gosney, Lucas Gosney and Callie Gosney; and Danny DeBacker and Kati DeBacker.

Rich loved to be active and sports were a huge part of his life. He was a tremendous athlete excelling in basketball and both fast pitch and slow pitch softball. When his children came he devoted a great deal of his time as a coach for their basketball, baseball and softball teams during their childhood. He went on to become the most devoted fan to every activity that his children and grandchildren participated in.

In retirement, Rich and Char spent winters in Apache Junction, AZ for 17 years before moving to The Villages, FL in 2013. He continued to play slow pitch softball until 2013 and was so very proud to play on the Coca-Cola Classics of Wisconsin SSWC 60 team that won the Class AAA Senior Softball World Championship in 2002. Rich will be remembered for his fun loving nature and his wonderful sense of humor. He loved to tell stories and share his jokes and will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to know him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Pete; sister, Eileen; and grandson, Danny DeBacker.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.