Francis "Fran" Riley

Francis “Fran” Riley, 91, of Davenport, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026, at Senior Star Assisted Living, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral Service and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am, Saturday, February 14, 2026 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. The family will greet friends from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Friday, February 13, 2026 at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Assumption High School and the Center for Active Seniors (CASI). Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Fran was born on March 4, 1934, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Donald and Elizabeth (Horan) Riley. He grew up with his four brothers and two sisters on a farm in Ottumwa, Iowa. He attended the one-room schoolhouse, Dahlonga School in Wapello County and Catholic Central High School in Ottumwa, where he had great memories as a Fighting Gael basketball player chasing in the state basketball tournament with his brother, graduating in 1952. Fran graduated from St. Ambrose College. While in Davenport, he met Mary Kay Broderick from Marycrest College. On their first date, Fran took Mary Kay to Mass celebrated by Bishop Ralph Hayes at Davenport’s Municipal Stadium. Their love affair and faith continued to grow from there. They were united in marriage on November 28, 1959 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Des Moines. They shared over 62 years of marriage, 8 children and beautiful memories before she preceded him in death on March 5, 2022. Fran was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus for more than 60 years.

One of Fran’s biggest joys in life was raising and spending time with his family. From watching, coaching and refereeing his eight children in numerous sporting events, to rooting for his grandchildren in person or online at their competitions, he was our biggest cheerleader. Fran loved celebrating Riley family traditions such as Christmas in Geneva, decked in his Santa hat, dancing at the numerous Riley and Broderick weddings, and our annual Bix weekend gatherings.

As a lifetime member of the Cornbelt Running Club, the Bix was the highlight of his running year. He competed in over 40 Bix races. One of his proudest achievements was completing 21 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 1985.

Fran worked for the Davenport Public Schools, JI Case, and retired as a contract specialist at the Rock Island Arsenal.

Those left to honor his memory include his children; and their spouses: Stephen (Theresa) Riley, Battle Creek, Michigan, Mary (John) Piech, Geneva, Illinois, Patrick (Michell) Riley, Bettendorf, Kathleen (Scott) Aberle, Lake Forest, Illinois, Maureen Riley, Chicago, Illinois, Michael (Monique) Riley, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Bridget (Kevin) Doyle, and Meghan (David) Cashman, all of Park Ridge, Illinois; grandchildren: Ryan and Erin Riley, Emily (Parker Hine), Molly (Sean McMahon), and Ellie Piech, Andrew (Noemi) and Joseph Riley, Annie, Charlie, and Tommie Aberle, Nicholas Riley, Liam and Mary Kay Doyle, and Mary Frances and Sarah Cashman; great-grandchildren: Sophia, Leah, Sadie, and Rhett Riley; Honora and Margaret Hine; siblings: Daniel (Patty) Riley, Ottumwa and Shirley Ann (David) McLaughlin, Sigourney, Iowa, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill McCarthy, Des Moines, IA and Patrick and Suzy Broderick, Edina, MN; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Kay, his parents Don and Elizabeth Riley, and his siblings Loretta (Tom) Tracy, John Riley, Don (Lois) Riley, and Phil (Joyce) Riley; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws and their spouses, Edward (Norma) Broderick and James (Vivian) Broderick, Jody McCarthy; his mother-in-law, and father-in-law, Edward and Honora Broderick. May they rest in peace.

Fran’s family would like to give special thanks to his loving nurse Tammy and all of the staff at Senior Star for their compassionate care of our Dad.