July 9, 1938 - Feb. 9, 2013
ELKHART - Richard "Dick" Whetstone, 74, passed from this life to his heavenly home, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital.
Dick was born on July 9, 1938, to Vivian and Paul Whetstone in Park Ridge, Ill.
Dick spent much of his life in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Dick graduated from Maine Township High School (Des Plaines, Ill.) in 1956. He was a firefighter for more than 34 years, beginning his career as a volunteer in the Buffalo Grove, Ill., fire department and retiring from the Arlington Heights, Ill., fire department in 1994. He then worked for the Public Works Department in the village for eight years.
Dick had a long and enduring love of all things that moved on wheels, starting out with a Whizzer motor bike at a young age, graduating to bigger, faster motorcycles in his youth, with Indian and Vincent motorcycles and lastly his beloved Harley-Davidson.
Dick also loved collecting a variety of things including antique watches, knives and guns. He was a lover of jazz and classical music. He was an avid, adventurous cook and loved being head chef at the firehouse.
Dick was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Elkhart; the Illinois Firefighters Association and the National Rifle Association.
On May 18, 1991, Dick married his wife, Marilyn. He moved to the Elkhart area in 2002.
Surviving him are his wife, along with his brother, Jack (Charlotte) Whetstone, Schaumburg, Ill.; a daughter, MariChristine Scott of New Freedom, Pa.; a son, Daniel Whetstone of Shrewsbury, Pa.; grandson Daniel Dean Scott; three stepchildren, Michele Gray of Crestview, Fla., Jenee (Jason) Dessenberg of Plainfield, Ill., and Brandon (Ana) Massingill of Wheaton, Ill.; and six stepgrandchildren, Kitiara Chapello, Taylor Conner, Brendan Conner, Carson Conner, Sofia Massingill and Amelie Massingill.
His parents and a brother, Lyle Thomas Whetstone, preceded him in death.
His dear puppies, Molly and Emme, will greatly miss him.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home, 403 W. Franklin St., Elkhart. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, at the funeral home. The Rev. Spencer Mielke of Trinity Lutheran church will officiate. Burial will be in Olive (West) Cemetery, C.R. 3, Elkhart.
Online condolences may be sent at www.hartzlergutermuthinman.com. Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church and School.