Richard W. Whelan, 88, Janesville, died Jan. 21, 2013, at the Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center, Janesville.
He was born in Delavan on April 11, 1924 to the late John and Nora (Murphy) Whelan. He graduated from Darien High School in 1942, and attended Northern Illinois University from 1946 to 1948. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, serving under Admiral Forester, Commander of Hawaiian Sea Frontier. He married Jean C. Cammilleri in Beloit in August of 1947. She preceded him in death in 1999.
Richard had been employed by Beloit Corp Foundry as an apprentice from 1948 to 1955, Yates American as a purchasing agent from 1955 to 1961, Gilman Engineering as manager of materials from 1961 to 1971 and Youngberg Industries from 1971 to 1974. He was the founder and owner of Rockford Tool Steel Service which merged with Trogren Steel, and was later purchased by Atlas Alloys Steel Mill. He was a longtime member of the Elk’s Lodge and the Kiwanis Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Christine (Stanley) Turney of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Todd (Katie) Turney of Fort Collins, Colo. and Holly (Barry) Edwards of Los Angeles; great-grandchildren, Gwenyth, Elisabeth and Sadie and many other extended family and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 25, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church with the Rev. Randy Timmerman officiating. A visitation will be held on Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in St. Andrew’s Catholic Cemetery, Delavan. Memorials are preferred to St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
Schneider Apfel Schneider & Schneider Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family. For online condolences and registry: www.schneiderfuneraldirectors.com
A special thank you to Mercy Hospital and their wonderful staff for their care.
