Willie "Earl" Wear Jr., 91, of Rock Island, Ill., died Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at Silver Cross Health and Rehabilitation Pavilion at Friendship Manor, Rock Island.  Cremation rites were accorded.  A memorial service will be 11 am Monday, October 2, 2023 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island.  Visitation will be from 10 – 11 am Monday, October 2, 2023 at the funeral home.  Inurnment will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery, Davenport, where military honors will be presented.  Memorials may be made in care of Grace Church or Friendship Manor, both of Rock Island.

Earl was born in Quincy, Illinois on September 11, 1932, to Willie Earl Sr. and Audrey Peterson Wear.  He married Catherine Talbot Heeschen on August 9, 1958 in Homewood, Illinois.

Earl earned a master's degree in biology from Western Illinois University.  He was a proud science teacher who relished his students. Earl retired from Moline High School in 1992.

Earl was a U.S. Army Veteran.  He was a member of Grace Church, formerly Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Rock Island.  Earl delighted in family, adoring his wife, children, and grandchildren. He enjoyed square dancing, cards, bowling, and travel.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Catherine Wear, Rock Island; children, Rebecca Lynn (Brian) Clarkin, Merrifield, Minn., Brenda Jean Bertrand, Springfield, Ohio and William Richard (Beth) Wear, Coal Valley, Ill.; grandchildren, Jeremy, Michael, Meghan, Nicolas, Matthieu, Rebecca, Jessica, Daniel and Patrick; sixteen great-grandchildren; and sister, Ruth Eileen (Roy) Baker, Quincy, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Norma Huss, Lila Kerr and Mary Catherine Warren.

Online condolences, memories and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com