Orville Reeves

Orville C. Reeves, 99, of Bettendorf, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Iowa Masonic Home in Bettendorf. Funeral services will be Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 12:00 pm at The Runge Mortuary. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com.

Orville was born August 29, 1915 in Peoria, IL; the son of Claude and Lydia (Seibdrath) Reeves. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during WWII as a glider pilot. He was united in marriage to Lolita L. Backhaus on June 26, 1948 in Lowden, IA; she preceded him in death on July 1, 2001.

He worked three years at International Harvester and retired in 1973 from the Rock Island Arsenal where he worked as an Equipment Specialist for thirty-two years. After his retirement, Orville was a driver for Rainbow Florist for twenty-nine years. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed reading and puttering around his garage. His memberships included St. Mark Lutheran Church in Davenport; Master Mason Fraternal Lodge #221; 32 Degree Scottish Rite; KAABA Shrine; Assistant Hospital Chairman; Long time member of the Directors Staff; In charge of Transportation of Children for Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Orville helped drive children to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Chicago for many years, and also accompanied children to the Cincinnati Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

Those left to honor his memory include his children: Mary Ann (Richard) Kenyon, Groton, CT; Kathy Sue (Darryl) Nielsen, Moore, OK; Robert Jon (Nancy) Reeves, Eldridge, IA; eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Orville was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Jack.

The family would like to sincerely thank the entire staff at Fountains for their exceptional care and compassion to Orville during the past two years.