David Paul Almquist

He was born August 11, 1946 in Red Oak, IA, the son of Reynold D. and Gunhild Almquist of Essex, Iowa, where he was raised and attended public schools.

David graduated from Essex High School in 1964, after which he attended Southwestern Community College, Clarinda, IA. He joined the United States Army in 1967 and served in Vietnam where he did surveillance from AV1 Mohawk airplanes. He received an honorable discharge, then returned home where he went to work in his father’s grain elevator and portable milling business.

He and Mary Bengtson of Council Bluffs, IA, were married on May 27, 1978 in Council Bluffs, IA. On their 14th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows in a religious ceremony in Petersburg, IL, where they had moved a few years prior.

David began working for Art’s Way, a manufacturer and marketer of agricultural products, traveling not infrequently to represent the company at trade fairs in his district. He retired in 2014 as a district sales representative.

Motorized vehicles were a delight to him. As a teenager he built model cars. As an adult, his toys were larger, his favorites being his pickup trucks and tractors.

Observing the wildlife that frequented their property gave Dave and Mary pleasure as well as did the cats who took up residence with them. They loved their dogs; Hoppi in Iowa and Madison and Olivia in Illinois.

Although their social life was quiet, it was happily punctuated by visits with friends both those from Iowa and the home-grown variety in the Springfield-Petersburg area and those from other places in the country.

David especially appreciated Garrison Keillor and “The Prairie Home Companion.”

After Mary was felled by a stroke in 2007, David, took devoted and tender care of her, often calling her “my bride.”

To make certain Mary had continuous physical attention, he hired Linda Brown of Ashland, IL to give the same care she had provided for Mary in the last convalescent home in which Mary had recuperated on her journey home from the hospitalization.

A strong, warm friendship developed among the three and Mary and Dave, who had no children of their own, took to calling Linda “the daughter we never had.”

As time passed Linda’s family became integrated into David and Mary’s and after Mary’s death, she continued to help run the house. As Dave’s health issues grew, she became his caretaker.

David was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a sister; and two brothers-in-law.

He is survived by four sisters, and their husbands and families, those being Mary Adams-Lackey and Patrick K. Lackey of Pikesville, MD, Kitty (Kathleen) and Daryl Metzger of Des Moines, IA, Constance Almquist- Buvollen and Hans Petter Buvollen of Oslo, Norway, and Chris (Christine) Beckman and Mark Lemyre of Pleasant Hill, CA; six nephews; four nieces; and five cats. Also surviving are lifelong friends, Janet Walker and Don “Buck” Holmes, both of Essex, IA and close friend, Linda Brown and family of Ashland, IL. In addition, he is survived by two stepsisters and one stepbrother, and their families, those being Phyllis and Steve Carlson, of Clarinda, IA, Marla and Jeff Newlin of Armstrong, IA and Kevin and Becky Carlson Bettendorf, IA.

Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center prior to ceremonies.

Memorial Gathering: Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2019 at Butler Funeral Home—Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL. Military honors will be provided at 10:00 a.m. followed by the sharing of remembrances. A memorial ceremony will be held later in Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Protective League, 1001 N. Taintor

Rd., Springfield, IL 62702 or to American Legion Post 0333, PO Box 7, Essex, IA 51638.