Gregory Patrick Hipskind, age 49, passed away unexpectedly on January 3, 2026, leaving a void in the hearts of all who knew him.
Greg was born December 12, 1976, in Silvis, IL, to Richard and Brenda (Shaver) Hipskind. He grew up with his older brother Brian in Moline, IL, idolizing the Chicago Cubs, collecting wrestling figures and singing in the Moline Boys Choir. He graduated from Moline High School in 1995.
Greg’s greatest loves in life were his family and music. He met his wife Jenny in September 2004 and they formed an instant connection. From that point on, anytime Greg was with Jenny, he was smiling. They married on June 21, 2008, in Moline, IL. The couples’ shared love of baseball (albeit for rival teams) took them to more than 25 major league stadiums, and their cross-country road trip adventures have filled innumerable photo albums with cherished family memories. Greg was the proud Dada to two beautiful girls, Leah Grace and Emma Joy. He loved being a part of their lives through daily parenting, lunch dates, playdates, and fostering their own flourishing love for music.
Music became Greg’s passion early in life. While in junior high, Greg attended a concert by the rock band Poison and was immediately inspired to learn to play the drums and “get chicks.” In his early 20s, he formed the band Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls with Leo Kelly, Bob Kelly, and Liz Treiber. Greg was a huge part of the active band’s success, helping write songs, produce, and play thousands of shows across the country. Highlights included opening for Hootie & the Blowfish, REO Speedwagon, Styx, and a tour of Taiwan in January 2020. Greg recently gave the acceptance speech during the band’s 2025 induction into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Greg was also a founding member of the band Superfly Samurai.
After working in beverage delivery and distribution, Greg’s interest in music was fueled by also teaching drum lessons. In late 2011, he founded the QC Rock Academy in Davenport, IA, and through hard work and determination, has touched the lives of thousands of people in the Quad Cities. Greg was a gifted teacher, inspiring and motivating his students and other teachers to excel. He worked hard to provide students with unforgettable opportunities such as performing national anthems at sporting events, opening for local and regional acts, gigs at local farmers markets and the popular QCRA Battle of the Bands. He was also a smooth operator when it came to arranging unique experiences for his students to meet touring acts at their shows or host special artist clinics to learn from the best in the business. Greg leaves behind the legacy that every opportunity is important and there is always something new to learn.
Greg is survived by his wife, Jennifer Hipskind and daughters, Leah and Emma (Rock Island, IL), his parents, Richard and Brenda Hipskind (Rock Island, IL), and his brother, Brian Hipskind (Davenport, IA). His Hipskind family in the QC includes Kenny, Gary (Judy), Wanda, and cousins, Gabe, Janah and Jeff. He has many cherished relatives of his “Alabama family,” including aunts, Pat and Bettie, and special cousins, Eric, Stacy, Wayne and Jenny. He was also the son-in-law to Janet Butler (Janesville, WI), brother-in-law of Crystal (Tristan) Walker (Cumming, GA), Matthew (Danielle) Butler (North Las Vegas, NV), and Jackson (Katelyn) Butler (Chicago, IL). He was a proud uncle to Adrik, Kyler, Adilee, Kalvary, Theo and Finn, adopted nephew, Adam, and loved his extended family in New York. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Kevin Butler, his grandparents and aunts, Vickie McAllister and Emma Mae Jackson, uncles, LC Shaver and Paul Shaver.
Memorial gifts may be made towards a fund being set up for his family.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 9 from 3pm-6pm at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home – 3030 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 10 at 10am at The Stern Center, 1713 – 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL with burial immediately following at Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery.
Condolences may be left at www.WheelanPressly.com.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Gregory P. Hipskind, please visit our floral store.
