Richard D. "Rich" Zubeck

Funeral services and a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Richard D. “Rich” Zubeck, 49, of Davenport will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 25, 2019 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 333 W. Lotte Street, Blue Grass.  Burial will be in National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 Main Street, downtown Davenport.  Rich died unexpectedly Saturday, July 13, 2019, in Davenport.

Richard Dean Zubeck was born April 21, 1970 in Plainview, New York, the son of Richard H. and Ngaire A. (Rosan) Zubeck.  He was united in marriage to Jessica Ahrens on August 29, 2014, in Davenport. Rich proudly served our country in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, where he was deployed four times to Iraq and Afghanistan, retiring as a Major after 30 years of service.

Major Zubeck graduated in 1999 from C. W. Post in Long Island, New York with a degree in Criminal Justice.  Major Zubeck commissioned as a 2LT in the US Army Infantry.

Following Infantry Officer Basic Course, Bradley Fighting Vehicle CDR’s Course and Airborne School, Major Zubeck was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as a Rifle Platoon Leader at Ft. Benning, Georgia.  He then served as a Company Executive Officer in the 3rd ID,

1-30th (M), C CO, where he was deployed to Kosovo in 2001.  In 2003 Major Zubeck completed the Military Intelligence Officer Advance Course and was stationed in South Korea with the 3rd MI as a battalion Deputy S3.  Following Korea, Major Zubeck was assigned to the 902nd MI Group at Ft. Meade, Maryland as a Group Planner.  Following that assignment, he moved over to the 742nd MI BN where he was the Chief of Deployable Communications (Operations Branch).  Major Zubeck went on to serve as the 742nd MI BN Charlie Company Commander in 2006.  In 2008 Major Zubeck deployed to Iraq as an Intelligence Advisor.  Following that deployment, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division as the Brigade S2 in Ft. Polk, Louisiana and deployed to Afghanistan.  Upon return, Major Zubeck was assigned to the First Army Headquarters at Rock Island Arsenal as the G2 planner.  Major Zubeck deployed to Afghanistan again in 2013 with the First Army as a Training Operations Officer, and his last assignment was as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Norwich University.

Major Zubeck’s awards and decorations include:  Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5), Army Achievement Medal (2), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Award, US Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star (2), Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War On Terrorism Medal (2), Korea Defense Service Medal, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4), NATO Medal, Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Parachutists Badge.

Rich had worked in logistics at the Rock Island Arsenal. He enjoyed riding motorcycles watching U.F.C. and was an avid fan of the New York Jets and the New York Yankees.

Memorials can be made to either an education fund for his children or the Wounded Warriors Program.

Survivors include wife Jessi and their children, two sons, Preston and Quintin, all of Walcott and his daughter, Alyssa Zubeck, Farmingville, New York; his mother, Ngaire Rosan, sister, Natalie Smith and godson/nephew, Joseph Smith, all of Tampa, Florida; brother, Matthew  (Donna) Zubeck and stepmother, Denise Zubeck of E. Patchogue, New York; his in-laws, Donald (Melanie) Ahrens, Davenport, Florida and Vicki (Alan) Seddon, Blue Grass; as well as numerous loving nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard H. Zubeck, maternal grandparents, Walter and Mildred Rosan and paternal grandparents, Rudolph and Ruth (May) Zubeck.