Donald Richard Hodge Ii

Donald “Rick” Richard Hodge II, age 60 of Thomson, Illinois died Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center North, Clinton, Iowa. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 3, 2011 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson, Illinois. Reverend Paul Fritz of the Thomson United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Lower York Cemetery, Thomson. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, January 2, 2011 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson. A memorial fund has been established in Rick’s memory.
Rick was born on January 20, 1950, the son of Donald Richard and Barbara (Lawrence) Hodge in Oelwein, Iowa. He attended Fulton High School, graduating with the Class of 1968. Rick married Kathleen A. Sheridan in 1973 and was later married to Lenna E. Spencer.
Rick was a Union Pipefitter with the Local #25 in Rock Island, Illinois, retiring in 2008. While employed as a Pipefitter, Rick taught several apprentices how to weld and become Pipefitters. He loved the outdoors, especially boating, hunting, fishing and riding his Harley Motorcycle. Rick was also a Chicago Bears and Fighting Illini Fan. Most of all, Rick loved spending time with his fiancée, Debra Johnson, family and friends.
Rick is lovingly remembered by his fiancée, Debra of Thomson; and her two children, Brandon (Randee) Johnson of Rock Falls, Illinois and Haley Johnson of Riverview; one daughter, Jessica (Jacob) Alt of Bloomington, Illinois; one son, Josh Hodge of Peoria, Illinois; two grandsons, Aidan and Asher Alt; his father, Donald Richard Hodge of Fort Madison, Iowa; two sisters, Pamela Hodge of Fort Madison and Lynne Robinson of Waterloo, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara.