Davis, Clarence E. 1924-2003

COLE, DAVIS, GOERDT, ABRESCH, WARD, DONATH, OSTRANDER, WARDLE

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/5/2004 at 08:41:13

Clarence E. Davis

Telegraph Herald - Nov 27, 2003

Chapel services will be at noon Saturday at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa.

Mr. Davis was employed as a ham boner at the former Dubuque Packing Co. for 42 years until his retirement.

He was born on Aug. 13, 1924, in Colesburg, Iowa, son of Charles and Lillian (Cole) Davis. He married A. Lorraine Goerdt on Oct. 18, 1942; she preceded him in death on June 2, 1982.

Gink loved to tinker with cars at D&D Auto in Peosta, Iowa, working there each day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for many years after his retirement.

He was an avid hunter all of his life and continued to go deer hunting well into his 70s. All of his children, their spouses and some of his grandchildren have very fond memories of running the hills of Colesburg at night going coon hunting with Gink.

He loved old-time country music and nothing gave him greater pleasure than sitting around the house playing the guitar and singing with his brother, Clete.

Clarence was a devoted partner, Dad, Grandpa and "Papa Gink" to his and Mary's families.

Surviving are his longtime companion, Mary E. Billington; a daughter, Patricia A. (Dan) Abresch, of Dubuque; three sons, Clarence C. (Nancy) Davis, Donald E. Davis and Dale J. (Cindy) Davis, all of Dubuque; six grandchildren, Lorrie, Todd, Tammy, Tara, Dan and Leigh; 10 great-grandchildren; Mary's children, three stepdaughters, Jean (Bob) Urbain, of Farley, Iowa, and Jo (Steve) Perry and Sara (Dennis) Galle, both of Dubuque; two stepsons, Jon (Sandi) Billington, of Dubuque, and Dennis (Kris) Billington, of Readlyn, Iowa; 23 step grandchildren; nine step great-grandchildren; two sisters, Minnie "Sookie" Ward and Virginia "Sis" Donath, both of Dubuque; and a brother, Cletus Davis, of Dubuque.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Dorothy Davis, Mary Ostrander and Fanny Wardle; and three brothers, Jim, Randall and Roy Davis.

In lieu of flowers, a Clarence E. Davis Memorial Fund has been established.

The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to Gink's beloved niece, Rose G., of Hospice of Dubuque, for her loving care of him and support of the family.