Donald Gayman

Donald J. Gayman, 99, a resident of Davenport, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at Good Samaritan, Davenport surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services to celebrate Don’s life will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 N. Main Street, downtown Davenport. Burial will take place in Holy Family Cemetery, Davenport. The family will greet friends from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

Donald John Gayman was born on July 31, 1918 in Davenport, one of nine children born to Charles J. and Lillian “Lilly” (Roenfeldt) Gayman. He was raised on the family farm on Telegraph Road, the oldest family owned farm in Scott County, having been in the Gayman family for the past 180 years.

Don was united in marriage to Genevieve “Genny” Ivanoff on August 24, 1940 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Davenport. She preceded him in death on January 1, 2009 after 68 years of marriage together. In the 1950’s, when the children were young, Don and Genny moved to Montana to operate a ranch owned by Genny’s mother and stepfather from which they will forever cherish those memories.

Don retired in the early 1980’s from ALCOA and had previously worked for Besler’s Davenport Locomotive. In his retirement, he worked for Rainbow Florist delivering floral arrangements.

He had a tremendous work ethic and never enjoyed being idle, Don enjoyed constant tinkering around. He, alongside his brothers, built each other’s homes and was especially proud to have lived in his home independently until recently. Don also enjoyed polka and square dancing with his love, Genny.

Don had been a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Isaac Walton League, ALCOA Retiree Lunch Group, and Eagle’s Club.

Survivors include his children, Donna Welty and John (Beckey) Gayman, all of Davenport; grandchildren, Melissa (Tim) Coffman, Matthew Welty, Elesha Gayman Shahinllari, Emily Gayman (Zeke Zoeckler), and John Eric Gayman, great-grandsons, Zaiden Zoeckler and Eli Shahinllari; a sister-in-law, Midge Schlotfeldt, Winston Salem, NC; and a Goddaughter, Sherri Wink-Musgrave, Boynton Beach, FL.

Visitation

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM ,Saturday, January 27, 2018
Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home
614 Main Street Davenport, IA 52803

Funeral Mass

10:30 AM ,Saturday, January 27, 2018
Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home
614 Main Street Davenport, IA 52803