Wallace (Jerry) Longbons, 82, of Carbon Cliff, IL, died Monday, September 12, 2016 at Hope Creek Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 16 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Silvis, IL. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Van Hoe Funeral Home in East Moline, IL, with a rosary at 3:00. Burial is in the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Jerry was born May 25, 1934, in Decatur, IL, the only child of Melvin and Marguerite (Dooley) Longbons. He attended St. Bede Academy and Jr. College in Peru, IL, and graduated in 1956 from St. Ambrose University. It was during his time at St. Ambrose that he met and fell in love with a Marycrest student, Mildred (Millie) Urich. They were married August 3, 1957 in Duncan, IA. Jerry served in the U.S. Army, worked as a commodities broker, managed an oil processing company and retired in 1993 after 32 years at the Rock Island Arsenal where he served as supervisor and manager of the Technical Publications Division. He authored a text on technical writing and taught part-time at Black Hawk College. He was a Past-Grand Knight of Leo Council Knights of Columbus and served on the Parish Councils at both St. Anne's and St. Mary's Catholic churches, East Moline. He was a member of East Moline/Silvis Rotary, served on the Carbon Cliff TIF Commission and the planning and Zoning Board, as well as serving as a Carbon Cliff Village Trustee. In his retirement, Jerry volunteered with the Mississippi Valley Blood Center, thoroughly enjoying assignments in the small rural Iowa communities. He and Millie loved to travel and spent many winters in CA, TX and AZ. However, it was his children and grandchildren who were the joy of his life and brought him the greatest pleasure. He was happiest when surrounded by family. Left to mourn his memory are his wife, Millie, and children: Laurie (Mark) Stepanek of Seal Beach, CA; Jeff (Kim) Longbons of Wheaton, IL; and Greg (Janis) Longbons of Prophetstown, IL. Also surviving are grandchildren: Jack Stepanek of Seattle, WA; Letitia and Grace Longbons of Wheaton, IL and Tessa, Anna and Caleb Longbons of Prophetstown. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother, Ruth Longbons. Memorials in his memory may be made to St. Bede Monastery, Peru, IL or St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.vanhoe.com.

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Friday, September 16, 2016 10:00 AM