Walter F. Lancaster

Walter F. “Wally Gator” Lancaster, 62, a resident of Clarence, Iowa and formerly of York, Pennsylvania and Davenport, Iowa died on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa following a courageous nine-month battle with cancer.
His funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 24, 2006 at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Chapel, Bettendorf, Iowa. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Humane Society.
He was born May 30, 1943 in Savanna, Illinois, the son of George & Helen (Turner) Lancaster and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy with service in the South Pacific.
On April 10, 1965, he was united in marriage to Carol E. Herrick in Aledo, Illinois.
Wally was employed as a security supervisor for the Caterpillar Tractor Company in Mt. Joy, Iowa until 1988 when the plant closed. He then transferred to the Caterpillar Company in York, Pennsylvania where he worked until 1999. Following his retirement, he continued to work for the York Business Center until September of 2005 when he returned to Iowa.
He was a member of the Riverside Masonic Lodge #503 of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania and a former member of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Davenport, Iowa.
Wally was a man of many interests and activities. He was an avid Jeff Gordon and NASCAR fan, enjoyed traveling, loved to watch the eagles along the river and was a collector of M&M memorabilia. In addition, he enjoyed an occasional trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey to try his luck in the casinos. He owned & cared for horses and was fond of animals of all kinds. Wally remained a loyal fan of the Chicago Bears, enjoyed good boxing and in earlier years, was an accomplished arm wrestler. But above all else, his beloved family was the joy of his life and his memory will always cherished in the hearts of those who knew & loved him.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Carol; his daughters, Michelle Lancaster of Davenport, Colleen Wildermuth of Bettendorf and her companion, Santana, and Colette Christopher of Bettendorf; his grandchildren, Wally Henkel, Telina Henkel, James Henkel, Danielle Day, Stephen Hagedorn, Christian Hagedorn & Brandon Hagedorn; his great-granddaughter, Kaylee Good; his brothers & sisters-in-law, Tom & Sharon Lancaster of Davenport and Bob & Kathy Lancaster in Missouri; and his longtime and special friend, Bob Cartwright of York, Pennsylvania.
His parents preceded him in death.
Condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Wally’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.