Richard Bidlack
Jerseyville |
Richard Allen "Dick" Bidlack, 70, died at 5:35 p.m., Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer.
Dick was born to Laverne and Leona Bidlack on February 2, 1948 in Waverly, New York.
Dick graduated from Tri-Valley Central High School in Grahamsville, New York in 1966. He was the quarterback for the Tri-Valley Bears, and his number 13 was retired upon his graduation. He attended Syracuse University on a football scholarship then transferred and graduated from Salem College, West Virginia.
Dick moved to Jerseyville in 1971 where he became an educator for Jersey Community Unit School District 100. He began his 34 year teaching career in 1971 in a substitute teaching position at East Elementary. In 1972, he accepted a permanent position teaching 6th grade and Physical Education and Health until his retirement in 2005. His coaching career included Illini Jr. High Football, JCHS Varsity Football, JCHS Boys Track and JCHS Basketball. After his retirement in 2005, he continued to coach as a volunteer and coached JCHS Varsity Football, Dow Elementary Basketball, and most recently Jersey Community Middle School Football, finishing the 2018 season.
The highlight of Dick's sports career was his induction into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 31, 2012.
Dick's hobbies included following most sports, coaching, hunting, fishing, reading, fantasy sports, spending time with his friends, frequent family gatherings, and sharing stories about his grandchildren.
Dick married the former Michelle (Burns) Fallin on February 10, 1996 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church.
Surviving are his wife, Michelle Bidlack of Jerseyville and their children, Brian (Ann) Bidlack of Festus, Mo.; Katie (Patrick) Green, Emily (Shane) DeSherlia, and Craig (Laura) Fallin all of Jerseyville; Lance (Erin) Bidlack of Jefferson City, Mo.; and Marcus (Tracey) Bidlack of St. Louis, Mo.; 15 grandchildren, Faith and Kaylee Bidlack; Mason and Fallin Green; Quincy, Miles, and Zoey DeSherlia; Arthur,Elliott, and Lois Fallin; William and Gage Bidlack; and Beau, Scott, and Bridget Bidlack.
Also surviving are his mother, Leona of Jerseyville; His sister Donna (Gene) Smith of Livingston Manor, NY; and a brother, Dale Bidlack of Jerseyville; Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lisa and Chris Nairn of Dow, Mindy and Keith Murphy of Jerseyville, Sue and Bryan Hercules of Bridgeton, MO., Chris and Laurie Burns of Godfrey, Marti and Rick Dunker of Hull, Marilyn and Jim Albach of Roswell, GA., and Marsha and Dennis Krueger of Jerseyville; many nieces and nephews and their spouses, Olivia and Luke Nairn; David and Matthew Murphy; Ellen (Paul) Kuebrich; Nick, Jake, and Libby Hercules; Rachel Burns; Kevin (Katie) Burns; Abby (Jon) Shumaker; Alex (Stephanie) Dunker; Drew and John Albach; Jill (Chad) Turner; and great nieces and nephews, Natalie and Carlie Turner, Coleman Kuebrich, Robby Burns, and Annelynn Dunker.
Dick was proceeded in death by his father, Laverne Bidlack and first wife, Cynthia (White) Bidlack.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father Martin Smith officiating.
He will be laid to rest in St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville.
For those desiring to make a contribution, a memorial fund will be designated in Dick's memory to benefit the students of Jersey CUSD #100.
Crawford Funeral Home
