Richie Gene Oliver

Richie Gene Oliver, age 61 years, a resident of Cypress, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly Thursday afternoon, June 18, 2026, at 4:37 P.M. in Cypress. Richie was born November 1, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Carrol and Sharon (Ritchey) Oliver. On May 22, 1999, Richie was united in marriage to Jacquie Funk at Bethany Baptist Church, near Cypress. In addition to his wife and father, Richie is survived by: 2 children – Richie Wayne (his fiancé, Sydney Blevins) Oliver of Cypress, Illinois and Haylie Oliver of Cypress, Illinois; a sister – Penny (Jeff) Jordan of Vienna, Illinois; a sister-in-law – Toni (Chris) McHugh of Carrier Mills, Illinois, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends. Richie was anticipating the birth of his first grandchild, a granddaughter, to be named Oaklynn, due to be born in August. In addition to his mother, Richie was preceded in death by a son, Colton, as well as 2 children born sleeping; a sister – Dana Little; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law – Terry and Johnette Funk. Richie was a 1982 graduate of Vienna High School. He was a trained and certified diesel mechanic. Richie had been employed by Shawnee Equipment and Transcraft, Inc. In 1989, Richie, along with his father Carrol, formed C. Oliver and Son. Together, they operated a tractor service and repair business. In 2015, Richie opened American Tractor. He was widely known as an excellent mechanic and had a passion for restoring tractors, especially “red tractors” and, as he would say, bringing them “back to life.” Richie was also a lifelong farmer. Richie was very civic minded and involved in his community. He was a former member of the Cypress Village Board, a longtime member and chief of the Cypress Volunteer Fire Department, and had served from 2015 until the present as a board member for the Cypress Grade School, where he was also a longtime softball, basketball and baseball coach. Richie was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing as well as hunting deer, water fowl, and squirrels. In his youth, Richie was well known in the regional mud racing circuit. Richie and Jacquie worshipped together at the Bethany Baptist Church, near Cypress. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 26, 2026, at 11 A.M. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. Pastor Jay Franklin will officiate. Burial will be in the Cypress Cemetery. Visitation will be conducted Thursday evening, June 25, 2026, from 5 P.M. until 8 P.M. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. There will also be a time of visitation Friday morning, June 26, 2026, from 10 A.M. until the funeral hour at 11 A.M.

Richie Gene Oliver

November 1, 1964 - June 18, 2026