Dick Lee Quiggle

Dick Lee Quiggle, 86, of Osceola, Indiana went to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, April 30, 2022.  He courageously finished his earthly race after a time with a brain tumor. 

Dick was born on March 27, 1936 in Granada, MN to John and Marjorie (Nelson) Quiggle. He was a 1954 graduate of Braham High School in Minnesota where he grew up on the family dairy farm.  Following high school, he pursued a degree in music at North Central Bible College, currently North Central University, in Minneapolis, MN.  During those years, he met his wife, Ila, when they both played alto saxophone in the college band. Ila Jean Eckert became the love of his life and married Dick in 1959 in Plymouth, Indiana.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1959 and settled in Valparaiso, Indiana for over 40 years before moving to Osceola.  They were happily married for over 62 years and had two children, five grandchildren, and two great grandsons. 

Dick enjoyed deer hunting and fishing with friends and family.  He owned a business, Lifetime Galleries, and traveled selling artwork for many years.  It was a great way to travel with Ila, meet so many nice people, and visit family and friends all over the U.S. After that, he used his expert driving and navigation skills at Basney Honda picking up and delivering new cars for a few years.  Although he moved away from the farm after high school, his farming roots were well incorporated into his hobby of collecting all things “John Deere”.  You can take the boy out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy. Whether mowing or snow blowing, he gave his JD lawn tractor a workout, even plowing neighbors’ driveways over the years.  In the last couple of years, they kindly returned the favor.  You could always expect to have fun playing games with Dick and compete with him at solving puzzles on Wheel of Fortune. 

Dick’s Christian faith was the most important part of his life.  As a young boy, he accepted Jesus as his Savior and chose to live his life to make the name of Jesus great.  He was very involved in his churches:  First Assembly of God, Valparaiso, IN; Living Hope Church, Merrillville, IN; and most recently at Calvary Assembly of God, Elkhart, IN.  Over the years, he served as song leader, orchestra and choir member, board member, and co-leader for several years with Ila of the Oasis seniors’ group at Elkhart Calvary. He even served three years at his college alma mater on the Board of Regents and on the Board of Youth For Christ. His faith permeated everything he did. Dick loved people and loved God.  John 3:16 gives us the great hope of spending eternity together.  

Dick is survived by his wife, Ila Quiggle; daughter Dawn (Jeff) Troxel; daughter-in-law Brenda Quiggle; brothers Jack (Yvonne) Quiggle and Bruce (JoAnne) Quiggle; sisters Janice Swanson and Jeanne (Mark) Johnson; grandchildren Jordan (Melinda), Trenton (Lexa) and Luke Troxel, Kati and Dylan Quiggle; and great grandchildren Marcus and Collin Troxel; brothers-in-law John (Beverly) Eckert, Lowell Ott, Floyd (Maureen) Eckert and many nieces, nephews and cousins, friends and relatives.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Marjorie Quiggle; his son, David Quiggle; parents-in-law George and Ilene Eckert; sisters-in-law: Beverly Quiggle and Debora Ott; brother-in-law: John Swanson, along with many other loved ones.  

A Funeral Service for Dick will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 12:00 Noon EDST at Calvary Assembly of God, 1010 E. Mishawaka Rd., Elkhart, IN 46517 with visitation at 11 AM EDST. Burial and military honors will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1300 Chester St., Plymouth, IN 46563.

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