David Sunleaf

Funeral services for David A. Sunleaf, 77, of Davenport, will be 11a.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport.  Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park.  The family will greet friends Wednesday from 9a.m. until the time of the service at funeral home.  Memorials may be made to Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army.  David died Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf surrounded by his family.

David Arthur Sunleaf was born on February 24, 1942 in Bellevue, Iowa, a son of Arthur W. and Virginia E. (Andersen) Sunleaf.  He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1959 and earned a business degree from the University of Iowa. He was united in marriage to Susan Remley on April 4, 1992 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Davenport.

Dave had worked as a major item manager at the Rock Island Arsenal for 28 years, retiring in 2004.

Dave was a patriotic and principled man with an infectious laugh. He loved his country and adored his family.  Dave started many family traditions including water balloon fights during the Bellevue Heritage Days and the Order of the Coal, annually awarded to the male in the family who had done the greatest good deed. He was the “Funcle” adoring his nieces and nephews, taking in any activity or sporting event they were participating in or sending them a card with money or a rose for their birthdays.

Dave was an award winning master gardener and baker.  He’s been awarded many ribbons at fairs for his vegetables, jams/jellies, and cookies.  He enjoyed having his family judge his cookie concoctions before he entered them into competition. His cookie were always the hit of all family gatherings.

Dave and Sue had many dogs over the years, many of them rescue dogs, including their most recent canine companion, Teddy.

Survivors include his wife, Susan, Davenport; siblings: Larry (Mary) Williams, Santa Barbara, California, Edward (Laurine) Williams, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Lucy (Curt) Zeimet, Bellevue, Iowa, Arthur (Amy) Sunleaf, Dubuque, Iowa; mother-in-law, Jane Remley, Davenport; sisters-in-law, Debbie (Tom) Brownson, Davenport, Denise (Dennis) Testroet, Blue Grass, Donna Arbogast, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Annette (Rick) Ripperger, Eldridge; and Rose Sunleaf, Wilton, Iowa; nieces and nephews, Brianna, Bethany, Paul, Brian, Mandy, Grant, Maja, Annika, Eliza, Christine, Melissa, Matt, Brandon, Ryan, Katelyn, Megan, Michelle, and Jacob; many great nieces and great-nephews

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Roger Sunleaf, stepmother, Lucille Sunleaf, stepfather, Gene Strawman, father-in-law, William Remley, and a brother-in-law, Steven Remley.

The Sunleaf family would like to thank all of the nurses and staff at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House and DaVita Dialysis for all the loving and compassionate care given to Dave. A special thank you to the donor and donor’s family from whom Dave received a liver and another 17 years of life.