MENDOTA - Richard “Dick” L. Shotliff, 98, of Mendota passed away Aug. 5, 2020 at Heritage Health, Mendota.

A private graveside burial service will be held at Rockton Township Cemetery. A memorial gathering is being planned for Aug. 5, 2021. Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota is handling the arrangements.

Dick was born Jan. 25, 1922 in Beloit, Wis. to Edward and Lyle (Liddle) Shotliff. He met Gisele Gross while serving with the U.S. Army in France and they were married at the American Cathedral in Paris on June 11, 1946. She preceded him in death in 2017.

Survivors include one daughter, Corinne Shotliff of Mendota; a brother, James Shotliff of Rockton; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife; one son, Stanley, who passed away in 2008; and two sisters, Josephine (Charles) Whiting and Dawn (Lee) Miller.

Dick spent his early years in Rockton and graduated from Hononegah High School, where he was valedictorian of his class in 1940. He was elected MVP in both football and basketball during his senior year. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946 and completed basic training at Camp Callan in California and OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. He joined the 76th Infantry Division at Camp McCoy, Wis. The Division was sent overseas in November 1944 and fought through the Siegfried Line and across Germany to meet the Russians near Chemnitz. Dick attained the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star and a commendation from the Chief Quartermaster. After the war ended, he was transferred to the Office of the Chief Quartermaster in Versailles (later moved to Frankfurt). While in Versailles, he met Gisele, a French girl working for the quartermaster headquarters, and she introduced him to Paris. When it came time for him to leave the army, they decided they could not separate and were married.

Dick returned to his interrupted education at the University of Illinois, and received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in accounting. He became a CPA and was employed for seven years by Lybrand, Ross Bros., and Montgomery in Rockford. Among his clients, beginning in 1951, was H. D. Conkey & Co.in Mendota. He moved his family to Mendota in 1955 where he was employed by Conco Inc. and H. D. Conkey & Co. for 36 years. He served as controller, treasurer and financial vice president. He also served on the boards of Mendota Community Hospital, Mendota Savings and Loan and Mendota Township High School. He was a charter member of the Mendota Rotary Club for 25 years, and the Mendota Golf Club and Mendota Elks for over 50 years. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. His hobbies included fishing, golf, and travel (for the first 90 years). In recent years, he and his daughter enjoyed collaborating on crossword and jigsaw puzzles. He remained an active reader and continued to follow politics, the economy and sports, although he no longer shared his thoughts in letters to The Mendota Reporter or elected officials.

Memorials may be directed to Mendota Area Senior Services or First Presbyterian Church of Mendota.