Sean P. McQueen

Sean P. McQueen, 52, of Davenport, died Thursday, November 21, 2024 at his home in Davenport surrounded by family and friends. A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 22, 2024 from 2 until 4 p.m. at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 4097 – 18th Street, Bettendorf concluded by a memorial service at 4 p.m. The service will be livestreamed by visiting St. John Vianney YouTube Following services, there will be a celebration of Sean’s life held from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at Mississippi River Distilling Company Event Center, 303 North Cody Road, LeClaire, Iowa. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Sean McQueen Memorial Fund, which will support recipients going into the trades. 

Sean Patrick McQueen was born on April 9, 1972 in Davenport, a son of Robert Van and Patricia Ann (Rhode) McQueen. He was a 1990 graduate of Assumption High School. Sean worked for Windmiller Design Build for 17 years as a project manager, learning the art of perfection and using his eye for design with every project. In 2010, he was a founding member of Mississippi River Distilling Company where he thrived in sales and marketing. He was well respected throughout the service industry. 

Sean had a natural ability to make connections with anyone he came in contact with. He had no fear and was so easy-going. Age was irrelevant to Sean, even as a child, he could easily converse with adults and kids alike. Of all the gifts he was blessed with, the ability to bring people together and create lasting, meaningful relationships was the greatest. Sean had a take charge personality, not in a boastful way, but naturally leading the way. He was Uncle Sean, not only to his cherished nieces and nephews whom he shared an incredible relationship with, but to all his friends' children and anyone of that generation. 

Sean loved to bike; he began participating in RAGBRAI at the age of 16. He ran Team Liverstrong for many years. He also enjoyed skiing the slopes of Colorado and innovating cocktails to share with others! Sean’s eye for design and perfection stretched far and wide, especially around the distillery in LeClaire and the Davenport Downtown Lounge which he designed himself. Most of his friends and families' homes have Sean’s fingerprints all over them. It was very important for him to stay busy, especially during his battle with cancer, he never once said “Why Me” but wouldn’t let his friends make him a saint either. He was so happy for those he convinced and encouraged to get colonoscopies and their results were clean. Sean carried the diagnosis of cancer with dignity and grace. 

Sean had his hand in a lot of different organizations and events, and he enjoyed being a BIG with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and served every year at Mr. Thanksgiving’s meal at SouthPark Mall. 

Those left to cherish Sean’s memory are his mother, Pat McQueen, Bettendorf; brother and sister-in-law, Kevin and Regina McQueen, Greater Knoxville, Tennessee; sister and brother-in-law, Dawn and Jason Nickles, Bettendorf; nephews and nieces: Connor McQueen, Atlanta, Georgia, Megan (Alec) Nickles-McChesney, Omaha, Nebraska, Grant Nickles (Brandon), Madison, Wisconsin, Luke Nickles, Denver, Colorado, and Jenna Nickles, Pacific NW, USA; and cousins: Debi Jermyn, Moberly, Missouri, and David Decoursey, West Burlington, Iowa, and many, many, many friends. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. 

Sean was preceded in death by his father, and an infant brother, Brian McQueen. May they rest in peace.