Rodman W. "Rod" Atkinson
d. September 7, 2010
Rodman W. “Rod” Atkinson, 88, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa died on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at Trinity Bettendorf.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church of Bettendorf where he was a longtime member. Private family graveside services will be held at the Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf. Memorials may be made to Honor Flight.
He was born December 13, 1921 in Rock Island, Illinois, the son of Fred & Alpha (Hartmann) Atkinson and was a graduate of Rock Island High School.
On June 27, 1953, he was united in marriage to Wilma I. Smith at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rock Island.
Rod retired in 1987 from the Accounting Department of the Alcoa Company where he had completed 37 years of faithful service.
During World War II, he served with 5th Armored Division of the U.S. Army in Rhineland and Central Europe. Upon his honorable discharge as a Private First Class, he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
In addition the church, his memberships included the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9128 of Bettendorf where he was a Life-Member and the Alcoa Retirees Club.
Rod was a faithful and avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. In earlier years he coached Bettendorf Little League Baseball. His family was the joy of his life and he treasured every moment with them.
Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Wilma; his daughters, Gail (O.Lucas) Atkinson of Bettendorf and Carol Atkinson of Bettendorf; his sons, Gary Atkinson of Moline, Illinois, Steven (Cindy) Atkinson of Forest, Virginia and U.S. Air Force MSGT. Scott (Alicia) Atkinson of Henderson, Nevada; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and another expected soon; his sister, Virginia (Tom) Duffy of Davenport, Iowa; many nieces & nephews; and his faithful canine companions, “Peanut” and the late “Jiggs.”