Doris Ann Blackburn

Services will be Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 12 pm at The Runge Mortuary. Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:30 am until the service. Her final resting place will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may go to St. John’s United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be left at rungemortuary.com.

Doris was born September 4, 1931, in Yankton, SD. She was the daughter of Les and Mabel Elsbree. Doris graduated from Yankton High School and enrolled at Iowa State University in 1949 where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. While at Iowa State Doris met her soon to be husband Robert in 1951. They were married July 18, 1953, in Yankton. Their married life began in Norfolk, VA where Robert was stationed at Norfolk Naval Station. Soon after they were transferred to Boston, MA. After Robert was discharged from the Navy, they moved to LaCrosse, WI, where Bob took a job with the Trane Air Conditioning Company. While in LaCrosse, her first child, Cindy was born. In 1956, they moved to Davenport Iowa where Bob became District Manager and owner of Blackburn Trane. Doris was an owner and active Board Member of the business. Two more children, Bob and Jim were born in Davenport. In 1984, they bought a home on Crow Valley Golf Course. She enjoyed playing golf and going to dinner at Crow with her friends. Doris was also owner of Elsbree Farm, LLC in Yankton and enjoyed deciding when to sell the crops at the best price.

When Bob retired from the Trane Company in 1997, Doris proudly declared that she was retiring also. No more cooking! Doris and Bob went out to lunch and dinner virtually everyday and enjoyed knowing the people at their favorite restaurants. They also became snowbirds and enjoyed winters in Venice, FL where they were members of the Plantation Country Club. Doris loved when her family would come visit in Florida, especially her grandchildren, Cole and Faye.

Doris loved traveling to the many golfing resorts, a trip to Switzerland with their Trane friends, and many family winter vacations, usually centered around golf. Three family trips to Jamaica in 1968, 1970 and 1973 were especially adventurous and the highlight of her family trips.

Doris was an avid Hawkeye sports fan (yes an Iowa state grad who became a Hawkeye fan). Doris and Bob and attended Hawkeye football and basketball games for over 60 years. Doris was also an avid fan the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears fan and rarely missed a game on TV.

Mostly, cherished her time with her husband as they were inseparable.

Doris was a member of St. Johns Methodist Church, Crow Valley Golf Club, The Plantation Country Club and PEO.

Those left to honor her memory include her loving husband of 69 years, Robert Sr., Bettendorf, son, Robert (Diane) Blackburn, Jr., LeClaire, IA, James (Noel) Blackburn, Wilmette, IL and grandchildren: Cole Blackburn, Chicago and Faye Blackburn, Easton, PA. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Cindy.