Melvin Francis Reicks Sr.

Melvin “Big Red” Reicks, Sr., 84, of Davenport crossed the finish line in the Daytona 500 race of his life on April 9, 2012 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012 in the Runge Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Wednesday at the mortuary. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Online condolences may be made to www.TheRungeMortuary.com.

He was born in Ft. Atkinson and came to Davenport when he was 14 years old. He joined the military and served for 2 years as a cook in the Marines. He married his wife Shirley in 1947. They had their first sons, twins: Melvin Jr. (Melvie/Mel) and Billie Dean who was stillborn in 1949. They went on to have three more sons John, Jerry and Mark.

Melvin worked in various factories in Davenport. He later partnered with his brother Irving as one of the original alley scrapers. He next partnered with his friend Wayne Traum in a junkyard/used auto parts business on S. Concord Street. Years later they dissolved the partnership and the two split the junkyard in half. He named his half Redhead’s Auto Parts and renamed it Big Red’s Auto Parts. All of his sons went to work for him in his business of which John and Jerry are now owners. Melvin retired from his used auto parts business and opened Big Red’s Auto Sales on West 4th Street in 1978, later relocating the car lot to Rockingham Road which he operated until his health problems would not allow and turned it over to his son, Mark.

Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Shirley; sons John, Jerry and Mark; daughter-in-law Diane; sisters Eleanor and Rosemary; grandkids Hiedi, Melody, Billie, John Jr., Misty and Chad; 11 great grandkids and one on the way; nephew Louie and many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clem and Hanna; brothers Bill, Irving and Clarence; twin sons, Billie Dean and Melvin Jr; many other family and friends.