Lou "Gongie" Segura

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Lou “Gongie” Segura, 85, of Davenport, will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2023 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport. Visitation will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass in the parish center at church. A luncheon will be served immediately following the Mass. Burial will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island with military honors.  Please arrive Monday at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home at 1 p.m. to process to the National Cemetery.  

Gongie died Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at his home with his daughter by his side.

Gongie was born on November 14, 1937 in the family railroad boxcar on 3^rd Street in Silvis, Illinois, a son of Juan and Maria (Noriega) Segura. Spanish was Gongie’s first language as he didn’t start learning English until 1^st grade. As a child he was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Silvis where he was baptized, received his first Holy Communion, and was confirmed into the faith.  Gongie graduated from United Township High School in 1955.

Gongie was united in marriage to Gloria Carrillo in August of 1958 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Davenport.

Gongie served in the United States Air Force from 1955 until his honorable discharge in 1959.  He served in Guam at Andersen Air Force Base and was later discharged from Ft. Pease in New Hampshire.  Gongie was an aerial reconnaissance photographer.  He dreamed of being a pilot, but his shade blindness and flat feet prevented it, but he discovered his love of photography after training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado.  Gongie’s first time riding a motorcycle was a Triumph in Guam which ignited a passion for riding motorcycles that lasted over 60 years!

Gongie worked at John Deere Plow and Planter from 1964 until 1995 when he retired as a Quality Assurance Inspector.  He was a member of United Auto Workers Local 865. Following his retirement, he moved to Greers Ferry Lake in Arkansas where he lived until returning to Davenport in July of 2021.

Gongie could be described in many ways and never was one to be idle; he was an explorer, an outdoorsman, a hunter, a fisherman, a land developer, a motorcycle enthusiast, a car collector and restorer, and enjoyed reading. An avid fan of the Bears and Cubs.  He also enjoyed spending time with his children.

Survivors include his children: Sherry Segura Gahagan (Alan), Davenport and Todd Segura (Dawn), Greensboro, North Carolina; granddaughters, Ellie and Olivia; siblings: Theresa Castel, Connie Sandoval (Tanilo), Mary Fordham (Allen), Pete Segura (Terry), a sister-in-law, Mercedes Gomez Segura, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joe (Judy) Segura, Eli (Vincenta) Segura, Frank Segura; sisters, Nellie (Ray) Sandoval, Carmen (Jim) Daggett, Delores Segura, and a brother-in-law, Richard Castel.  May they rest in peace.

Gongie’s family would like to thank all those that assisted in his care over the last two years including Dr. Vinay Satti, MD, Dr. Kathleen Keyes, Dr. Abdur Ahmad, Melyssa Mosely ANRP, Jake Canright PT-DPT, Nicole Moore, Palliative Nurse Practitioner, Jamie Rehmert, CCC-SLP, and his nurses from Genesis Hospice, Tammy and Sam.

Memorials may be made to Hero Street USA or St. Anthony’s Catholic Church where Gongie was a member.