Rickey Wayne Pollock

Rickey Wayne Pollock, 62, of Belleville, IL, born Saturday, March 31, 1962, in East St. Louis, IL, passed away Friday, May 10, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL with family at his side.

Rickey grew up in a rural area of Belleville where his family had horses and spent most of their time outside gardening and enjoying nature. That lifestyle was instilled in Rickey and from a young age he had a knack for tending to plants. He attended Mascoutah High School and then SIUE and later studied horticulture at SWIC. In 2001, he started his business Backyards Lawn and Landscape. His attention to customer service and creative ability with gardens served him well through the years.

The passion for the outdoors never waned from those early years. Happiest when fishing or hunting, especially during bow season, Rickey knew well the joy of spending time at a cabin and having some beers after a day spent in a deer stand.

Cooking was Rick’s other favorite past-time. He would often prepare elaborate birthday meals for family and those in his close circle loved his homemade chili. He was also an avid baseball, hockey, and football fan always ready to attend a game. In his spare time, Rick tended bar at Foley’s tavern in Belleville where the camaraderie matched his joyful spirit and the friends were like family.

Rick’s proudest moment was becoming a father. He loved spending time with his son, Kyle, and adored his young niece, Emerson.

Rickey was preceded in death by his:

• Parents: Shelby Forrest and Lana Julianne, nee Gilliam, Pollock
• Brother: Todd Glenn Pollock

Surviving are his:

• Son: Kyle Shelby Pollock
• Sister: Ashley Renee Pollock
• Niece: Emerson Quinn Pollock of Belleville, IL
• Aunt: Tammy Thomas, nee Gilliam (William)
• Uncle: Danny Gilliam (Sandy)
• Many cousins

Services: A Celebration of Life will take place a Foley’s Tavern on June 1st from 3:00-6:00pm.