Wesley "Wes" G. Greenwood

Wesley “Wes” G. Greenwood, 90, of Milan, died Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at home surrounded by family.  Funeral services will be 10:00 am Saturday, May 8, 2021 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan.  Visitation will be from 4-7 pm Friday, May 7, 2021 at the funeral home.  A recording of Wes’ service may be viewed later by visiting his obituary page through wheelanpressly.com.  Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in care of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Wes was born on November 10, 1930 in Xenia, Illinois, a son of Bernard and Opal Milburn Greenwood.  He married Carol Balster on March 1, 1952 in Denver, Colorado.  They moved to the Quad Cities in August of 1952.

Wes joined the Army in 1948 and was part of the 1st Calvary Division.  He served in Japan and fought in the Korean War.  He later became a gunnery instructor at Fort Carson, Colorado as a sergeant.  Following his discharge in April of 1952, he became an electrician at the Rock Island Arsenal.  He later joined the Milan Police Department where he was promoted to Chief in 1956.  He served 37 ½ years, retiring in 1991. 

Wes was active in the Illinois Police Association.  He helped organize the Quad Cities Association of Chiefs where he served as president as well as organized the Milan Auxiliary Police Department.  He was also a member of the International Police Chiefs Association. 

Wes was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan, a life member of the Milan American Legion Post 569, Rock Island V.F.W. Post 1303, Rock Island Moose Lodge 190, a charter member of the Milan Optimist Club and the Milan Knights of Pythias.

Wes received many awards over the years which included, officer of the year in 1988, optimist of the year, community service award in 1986 from the Milan Chamber of Commerce and was the festival parade marshal in 1975.

He enjoyed boating on the Mississippi over twenty years and traveled to all fifty states, mostly by motorhome.  He loved hunting and built and maintained a hunting lodge in Artesian, South Dakota since 1990.  He spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona and Florida.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Carol Greenwood, Milan; children, Lesley (Julie) Greenwood, Milan, Jan (Calvin) Heiar, Milan and Gail (Kevin) Mueller, Crossville, Tennessee; grandchildren, J.R. (Michelle) Greenwood, Michael Greenwood, Paul (Jenny) Heiar, Scott Heiar and Carolyn (Josh) Koeller; great-grandchildren, Madison and Kaitlyn Greenwood and Bailey and Brady Heiar; brother, Delbert (Harlene) Greenwood, Salem, Ill.; sisters, Ginger Nieders, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. and Bernice McLain, Crossett, Ark.; and sister-in-law, Liz Greenwood.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Brenda Greenwood and brother, Larry Greenwood.

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

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