Father Richard L. Barclift

MOLINE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Father Richard L. Barclift on Tuesday, July 19, at Christ the King Church in Moline, where he once served as pastor. It will begin at 11 a.m., with Bishop Louis Tylka presiding.

Visitation is planned for Monday, July 18, at the church, 3205 60th St., beginning at 4 p.m. It will conclude with a Christian wake service led by Deacon Matthew Levy at 7 p.m. There will be additional time for visitation on July 19 from 10 a.m. until the Mass begins.

Interment will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 20, in Oakland Cemetery, Warsaw.

Father Barclift died on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at Overlook Village, Moline. He was 82.

Born in Waterloo, Iowa, on Nov. 23, 1939, Father Barclift was the son of Roy and Kathryn (Brady) Barclift. He spent much of his childhood in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and attended Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska, graduating in 1957.

Discerning a vocation to the priesthood, he studied at Loras College for two years, and went on to St. Ambrose College for three years, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1962. He completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Meinrad in St. Meinrad, Indiana, and was ordained by Bishop John B. Franz on May 22, 1966, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

Following ordination, Father Barclift served as parochial vicar at St. Joseph in Rock Island, Epiphany in Normal, and St. Patrick in Lincoln. He joined the Diocesan Vocation Team in 1972 and was named a diocesan consultor in 1974.

In 1976, he became a member of the Rock Island-Milan Cooperative and would minister as co-pastor of St. Ambrose in Milan and St. Patrick in Andalusia for two years, and then as pastor. In 1978 he was also named diocesan director for Christ Renews His Parish.

He went to St. Patrick in LaSalle as pastor in 1990 and returned to the Quad Cities four years later to lead Christ the King in Moline. Father Barclift was pastor at St. Patrick in Andalusia from 1998 until he was granted senior status in 2009.

In retirement, he assisted in Quad Cities parishes and celebrated Mass for the Benedictine Sisters at St. Mary Monastery in Rock Island, and served as a maritime chaplain with Apostleship of the Sea.

Preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jim, Father Barclift is survived by his nephews, Steve Barclift and Richard Barclift, and nieces, Jane Fellows and Julie Fischer.

Memorials may be made in care of Alleman High School, 1103 40th St., Rock Island, IL 61201, or your favorite charity.