Alphonse A. DeBruine, 96, of East Moline, IL, passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at Park Vista, East Moline.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, at the mausoleum chapel of Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline. Arrangements entrusted to Van Hoe Funeral Home, East Moline. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

Alphonse was born January 22, 1927, in Silvis, Illinois, a son of Celest and Ermine Steene DeBruyne. He graduated from United Township High School, Class of 1944. He married Leora J. Leibee on June 25, 1949, in Silvis and celebrated 74 ½ years together.

Alphonse was a W.W. II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he was a flight engineer on a B-25 bomber and was in training to be a flight engineer on a B-29 bomber. He retired in 1985 as a Tool & Die Maker for John Deere Harvester Works following 38 years of service.

He was a licensed pilot, 75 year member of APOA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), and enjoyed flying his Bellanca Cruiseair airplane from 1969 to 1988. Following his retirement from John Deere, he took up golfing in the summer and bowling in the winter on the Senior League at Highland Park Bowl. Alphonse had seven holes-in-one and became known as the "Mole Man" on the course and for others.

He will be fondly remembered as a loving husband, father, and the best "Grandpa Oak-O-Doak-O" to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife, Leora, of East Moline; son and daughter-in-law, Vance and Carolyn DeBruine, East Moline; grandchildren, Heather DeBruine, Matthew (Morgan) DeBruine, Nicole (Alex) Deitrich, and Brandon (Laura) DeBruine; great grandchildren, Caleb, Wyatt, Robert, Jackson, and one on the way.

Alphonse was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Vallery; parents; and all of his siblings, Frank, Morris, Agusta, Rose, Lara, Anna, and a sister in infancy.

Online condolences may be expressed at vanhoe.com