John Dettmering

John A. “Honest John” Dettmering, 82, of Port Byron formerly of Bettendorf, died Sunday, July 14, 2013 at Genesis Medical Center-Illini Campus in Silvis.
Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17th at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Quad City Animal Welfare Center.
John was born on December 26, 1930 in Oswego, Kansas to Fred and Truva (Blank) Dettmering.  After graduating from Medford High School in Medford, Wisconsin, John enlisted in the Marine Corps on April 25, 1949.  As a first division corporal, John survived the battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in November of 1952.
In March of 1954, John married Joan Keller.  John began working as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service in 1964, where he remained employed until his retirement in 1995.  John also served as a Volunteer Firefighter for the Bettendorf Fire Department for 13 years (1969-1982).
Upon retirement, John spent his mornings reading the paper over a cup of coffee before heading out to work on his four-acre property.  John was mechanically inclined and had a passion for woodwork.  John looked forward to meeting his friends every Tuesday morning for coffee.  Other hobbies included playing solitaire on the computer and watching Court Television.
John’s family will always remember “Honest John” for his sweet tooth, and his companion, Rascal, cleaning cookie crumbs off his chest.  John dearly loved spending time with all of his grandchildren: Jake, Jessica, Megan, Jeremy, Morgan, Jamine, Jed, Mitchell, Dillon, Kaia, and Drew.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Joan Dettmering; children Jon (Merle) Dettmering of Ventura, California, Jerry Dettmering of Colona, Illinois, and Julie (Dennis) Schroeder of Evergreen, Colorado; siblings, Esther (Gordon) Heier of Florida, Karl (Barbara) Dettmering, Marlene Dettmering, Barbara Dettmering, Wesley Dettmering, Eileen Keller (all of Wisconsin), and Gerri Waikowaiak of Arizona; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Frieda and Jake Keller; brothers, Bob and Roger Dettmering, sister-in-law, Sally Leahy, and a special friend Roger Kobs.