Doren W. Dicks

Doren Wayne Dicks, 94, of Davenport, Iowa, passed away Sunday January 6, 2019, at ManorCare Health Services, Davenport, after a short illness.

There will be no services, and cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, under the direction of the Cremation Society of the Quad Cities.  Interment will be in Dysart Cemetery in Dysart, Iowa.

Doren  was born in Poweshiek County, Iowa, to Melvin and Gladys (Chapman) Dicks on May 17, 1924, and lived in the Columbus Junction area for many years.  He graduated from Columbus Junction High School in 1942 and entered military service right out of high school.  He was a proud service member, serving 1942 to 1945 for the Army Air Force as a radio control operator over the South Pacific in war time.  This included Burma, Philippines, India, China and Japan.  Doren served with the 308th Bombardment Group, 14th Air Force, operating out of India and China.  Flying 36 combat missions with the B-24 Flying Dragons, he took part in the hazardous task of carrying supplies from India over the “hump” to Chengdu, China.

After he served his country, he attended Iowa State for a short time.  He worked for the FBI in the fingerprint department in Washington D.C. for a short time.

He married Betty M. Barta March 12, 1949, in Waterloo, Iowa, and moved to Davenport in 1955 where he worked in automotive parts departments in the Quad Cities area including Economy Motors in Rock Island, Warren Chevrolet in East Moline (as parts manager), Neu Oldsmobile in Rock Island, and Lujack’s in Davenport.

He enjoyed music and was interested in cars so much that he could tell you the make and model of cars just from a glance at a picture and was always correct!  In later years he was a chauffeur for Jumer’s Hotel, escorting many famous people in the limousine.  He loved watching the car shows like Counting Cars, car auctions, and Pawn Stars on TV at his home.

He is survived by three children, Kurtis W. (Lisa) Dicks of Moline, Illinois, Susan R. (Carlton) Wills of Davenport, and Glory J. (Jeff Miller) Caldwell of Davenport; grandchildren, Jeffrey S. (Julie) Caldwell of North Liberty, Daniel M. Wills of Davenport, and Kristy M. Caldwell of Iowa City; and two sisters, Betty Knupp of Cedar Rapids, and Laverta Evans of Columbus City.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Betty, on April 5, 2005; his parents; two sisters, Evelyn Vanselow and Wilma Masonholder; and two brothers, M. Eugene Dicks and Robert Dicks.