John "Hank" Davis

October 28, 1925 - September 25, 2020

John Harley ‘Hank’ Davis, Jr. passed away peacefully & with dignity on Friday, September 25th, 2020 at the Rock River Hospice & Home in Sterling, IL. His end of life came more abruptly than anticipated. His body failed him, but his mind & quick wit were intact till the end. Born into humble beginnings to John Harley & Marie Gertrude (Larson) Davis in rural Springville, IA on October 28th, 1925, Hank grew up living the depression era farm life, attending school in Springville & later in Martelle, IA, where he graduated in 1945. The following day he enlisted & served in the U.S. Third Army under George Patton in Germany following the Allied invasion of Normandy. Honorably discharged in 1947, he returned to Linn County to set down roots as a farmer in rural Mt. Vernon, IA marrying Lois Darlene Strother in 1949. A champion socializer, he enjoyed horseshoes, mushroom hunting, tractor pulls, snowmobiling, & a good game of Euchre. He found pleasure traveling to see family & friends afar, especially to Louisiana. A bit of a nomad following his retirement from farming, his days were filled with wheeling & dealing in vehicles, various restaurant ventures & houses in Cedar Rapids, Anamosa, Olin, Preston, Sabula, Prophetstown, Il; spending the last 8 years in Morrison, IL. There wasn’t a garage sale he didn’t stop at. Survivors include his dearest friend, partner & companion of 34 years, Sally Reese, his sister Wanda Lambert, Clear Lake, IA, his ex-wife & mother of his children, Lois, & their children Ann Davis, Louisville, KY, Jay (Chris) Davis, Mt. Vernon, & Kate Bair, Morrison. Grandchildren include Jason (Heather) Davis, Mt. Vernon, Elizabeth (Lance) Vedepo, Las Vegas, NV, Alex (Sarah) Davis, Martelle, Maggie Davis, Ames, IA & William Hank Bair (Allie Click), Southgate, KY, & nine great grandchildren. Also, many dear nieces, nephews, cousins & friends, especially his devoted friend Rosendo Garza. Hank was preceded in death by his parents, sister Clara McShane, brothers Glenn Davis & Marion ‘Bud ’Davis, & granddaughter Jessica Renier. Hank led an exceptionally long life in good health & was proud his son Jay & grandson Alex are carrying on his farming legacy. Arrangements are being handled by the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory, www.snellzornig.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rock River Hospice & Home, http://www.hospicerockriver.org/. The family will gather in remembrance at a later date.