Raymond J. Brockway

Raymond John Brockway, 87, of Bettendorf died Sunday, June 27, 2004 at Ridgecrest Village in Davenport. Funeral services will be Tuesday, June 29, 2004 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, Bettendorf. Visitation will be Tuesday at the funeral home from 12:30 P.M. until the time of the funeral.
Raymond Brockway was born March 18, 1917 in Burlington, Iowa the son of William & Minnie (Tee) Brockway. He served in the Army Air Force in World War II as a Link pilot Instructor. Part of his military experience included specialized electrical engineering training at Purdue University. He met and married Doris Mae Scott in Beaumont, Texas on June 10, 1945. Shortly thereafter the couple settled in Bettendorf.
Ray sold insurance for Farmers Insurance Group and later Mutual Fire and Automobile Insurance. Ray is best known as a local farmer. His farming career spanned over fifty years in which he was the first farmer to introduce “pick your own” strawberries to the Quad City area. Over the years he and his family grew strawberries, raspberries, sweet corn, tomatoes and a variety of local favorites. He continued active farming into his 80’s growing a variety of sweet corn hybrids at their Pleasant Valley field.
Ray Brockway loved his family, his friends and his fields. He had many friends and passed on his love of farming and conservation to his family and friends. Most recently his circle included many friends at Ridgecrest who also enjoyed talking about farming, experiences during World War II and sharing memories about family and experiences they had in common.
Raymond John Brockway is survived by his wife, Doris; his daughter & son-in-law, Diane & Ron Kintner, Bettendorf; son, Randall, and wife, Pearl, of Riverside, Illinois; son, Mark, and wife Anne, Bettendorf; and four grandchildren, Michael Kintner, Matthew Kintner, Lena Brockway and Joshua Shelp-Brockway. He was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Garden Ministry, a local garden effort to raise fruits and vegetables for those in need. Memorials can be sent to the Garden Ministry in care of Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf, Iowa.
The family would like to thank both his friends and the staff of Ridgecrest for their friendship and wonderful care.