Rick A. "Barney" Vecchia, 62, Oregon, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 in his home.
He was born Oct. 17, 1948 in Peru, the son of Perry Helmig and Jean Zupancic.
His adoptive parents were Dominic and Florence Vecchia.
He had lived in Oregon the past 28 years and formerly lived in Spring Valley and Princeton.
Vecchia was a pipefitter with Ottawa Local 81 for 25 years and was the Oregon School District Supervisor of Maintenance for the past eight years.
He was a former alderman for the City of Spring Valley, member of Spring Valley Fire Department and Deputy Sheriff for Bureau County and past Grand Exalted Ruler of Princeton B.P.O.E. and still a member.
He was very active and devoted to his work in the Oregon Schools and enjoyed NASCAR and local politics.
He was well known as a jokester and trickster.
He survived by his fiancé, Rose Mary Merryman; sons: Rich Vecchia, Spring Valley, Ryan (Kelly Grabill) Vecchia, Ladd and Robert A. Vecchia, Spring Valley; grandchildren, Alec Perry Vecchia, Evan Todd Vecchia, Daisy Vecchia, and Lillian Vecchia; and half-brother, Tim Zupancic, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and Rose Mary's daughter, Melanie Merryman.
Visitation will be on Thursday, Nov. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, Oregon.
Private graveside services will be held at Daysville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oregon School District in his name.
To leave online condolences visit www.farrellhollandgale.com.