Duane Edward Davis, 81, passed away Mon-day, July 14, 2008, in Pinecrest Nurs-ing Home in Mount Morris. Duane was born July 7, 1927, to Quimba and Marie (Gallup) Davis.
He was born on the family farm on Townline Road near Leaf River, where he continued to live his entire life and which was recently designated a Centennial Farm. He graduated from Leaf River High School in 1945. He married Berniece Hartje in 1947. They started farming, which he continued to operate most of his life, raising Murray Grey cattle during his later years. In 1960, he took over the area Phillips 66 distributorship that his father started in 1932, which he continued for 30 years. In 1961, he subdivided land at the east edge of Leaf River, where in addition to selling residential lots, he also built a gas station and a commercial building in which he and Berniece operated several businesses, including the Lunch Bucket Restaurant and Davis Camper Sales.
He was a private pilot and gave many people their first airplane ride in his Piper Super Cub that he flew from his airstrip on the farm. During the 1990s, he and his wife spent a lot of time at their second home on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Mo. Duane was a member of Leaf River United Methodist Church, Leaf River Historical Society and was a charter member of the Ogle County Pilot’s Association. Duane enjoyed flying, farming, traveling, boating, fishing and spending time with his family.
Survived by wife, Berniece; daughter, Sharri (Roger) Eickman of Geneseo; son, Quentin (Rachel) of Forreston; grandchildren, Renee Eickman of Bettendorf, Iowa, Kyle Eickman of Geneseo, Tracey (Mark) Robinson of Davis Junction and Daniel Davis of DeKalb; sister, Jeanne Conrad of Oakdale, Calif.; and several sisters- and brothers-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
Service at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 17, in Finch Funeral Home, Mount Morris. Visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, in the funeral home. Burial in Chapel Hill Cemetery, Freeport. Memorials to Leaf River Methodist Church and Leaf River Historical Society. Published in the rrstar.com from 7/16/2008 - 7/22/2008
[S5] Find A Grave, → Memorial ID 28380600.
[S2] Newspaper.
Davis - Hartje Leaf River, Ill., Aug. 26. —
Miss Bernice Hartje, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Hartje, of Leaf River, and
Duane E. Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Q. H. Davis, of Leaf River, were united in marriage Saturday evening at 8 o’clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Borneman. Rev. M. B. Stewart, pastor of Leaf River Methodist church, read the double-ring service.
The bride wore a white crepe gown, fashioned with cap sleeves and draped skirt, and her accessories were gold. She had a shoulder corsage of red roses, and her jewelry was a single strand of pearls, the groom’s gift.
The attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Borneman. The latter wore a pink jersey frock with black accessories and her corsage was made with white gardenias.
After a wedding dinner at the Mandarin Gardens in Rockford, the bride and the groom left for a three-weeks tour of the Pacific northwest, including the Black Hills and Yellowstone park. They will reside at the home of the groom’s parents.
Borth bride and groom are graduates of Leaf River high school. She also attended Rockford School of Business. The groom is engaged in farming.
— Freeport Journal-Standard, 26 Aug 1947, Tuesday, page 2.
1927 - 2008 (81 years)
Siblings
. Sharri DAVIS
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