Joseph Dale "Joe" Davenport

Joseph Dale Davenport died Dec. 29, 2022.

He was the beloved son of proud parents Esther and Bernard, descendent of French, German and Irish immigrants/devout Catholics, oldest brother to Dick, Jerry and Don, generous uncle to nieces and nephews, devoted husband of 62 years to his free-spirited bride Elizabeth, proud father to Lisa and Michele, enthusiastically proud Opa to Celeste and her husband, Simon, and Ethan, and thrilled to learn of his first great-grandchild, a girl! Baby Penelope was born March 23, 2023!

Joe was born in Callaway, Neb., April 27, 1931. The first family home consisted of four rooms without running water, plumbing or electricity. Despite the family's struggles during the drought of the early 1930s, Bernard transformed their truck into a makeshift camper and set off for the 1934 World's Fair in Chicago, three-year-old Joseph's first taste of wanderlust.

Inheriting the work ethic of pioneer farmers, Joe discovered his passion for music early, with piano his salve from the long work days in the fields. His mother, Esther, instilled a love for learning through her work as a teacher in a two-room schoolhouse. Books and music opened the world to Joe and he began to dream of discovering possibilities beyond Callaway.

Joe graduated from Callaway High School in 1949. Piano and saxophone were Joe's ticket to pursue his passions at Nebraska State Teachers College in Kearney where he loved playing in a big band while pursuing his degree in Music Education.

Joe was a proud Phi Tau Gamma and Xi Phi, served on Men's League Council, and loved participating in the Honorary Society/Mortar Board and musical groups Choraleers, Pride of the Plains Bank, Collegiate Choir and KSC Orchestra as well as volunteering on the Antelope Newspaper and the Music Educators National organization. Joe was especially proud to be President of the Newman Club his senior year. Working at a local mortuary covered extra expenses.

Fellow University of Nebraska-Kearney alum Jim Rundstrom reflected: "Joe was a special personal friend and a devoted university alum his entire life. His contributions to the Alumni Association were remarkable. From his home in Texas, Joe was always in a leadership role for every project of the association. Shortly after Joe joined the alumni board of directors in the early 1980s, the association acquired the Alumni House. Joe's leadership on the board and as board president in 1989 were years of renovation and fund raising to convert the building into a facility for a wide variety of uses. One room in the Alumni House is named the Davenport Room to recognize Joe's leadership and the family's financial contributions. Joe was a leader of every alumni event in Texas - Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. He organized events and alumni to ensure every activity was a success. His presence at every event was always a given. In recognition of his devotion, Joe was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Alumni Association in 1992."

After his 90th birthday celebration at Lakeline Oaks in Cedar Park, Texas,daughter Lisa prompted memories from Joe about his music icons including Duke Ellington. "DUKE ELLINGTON and his band performed in the Dance Hall in Kearney, Nebraska! No one danced. EVERYONE gathered 'round the bandstand, cheering throughout the whole show! We ADORED 'The DUKE!"
In 1953, with a Bachelor of Arts & Science (Major in Music) diploma in hand, there was only one choice to spread his wings, fulfill his dream to fly airplanes and travel the world. He joined the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet, completed training as a Naval aviator and was commissioned in 1954. Performing with the Navy Band tempered the perils of aviation and potential combat.

With nerves of steel required for taking off and landing on the USS aircraft carrier Ticonderoga, Joe's great love of the Navy was born. Flight school in Pensacola, Fla., proved bountiful with Joe making lifelong friends who Liz and Joe reunited with for decades back at Pensacola Beach, always the gatherer of friends, event planners and enthusiastic hosts.

Pensacola also was the lucky charm for love when Joe's housemate, Curt, a Naval navigator, invited his only sibling, Elizabeth, to visit with their parents from their home in the Bronx. When Elizabeth returned to New York, she told her mother she had met the man she was going to marry. Cupid struck and the couple was married six months later in New York City on Dec. 28, 1957. Joe's parents and brothers all traveled from Nebraska to celebrate their nuptials alongside Elizabeth's parents and brother and a Catholic church full of friends.

The Navy provided the ultimate honeymoon with Joe serving on a ship throughout the Mediterranean; Uncle Sam's generous support allowed wives to follow along. Joe recalled: "Our first married Christmas was spent in a small hotel in the Swiss Alps. It looked like it was out of the movie 'White Christmas.'" Elizabeth remembered taking the U.S.S. Constitution over to meet Joe in Barcelona for another break that he had. While Joe was on a subsequent deployment, Liz drove cross country with another Navy bride, purely for the adventure!

While stationed in Orlando, their first child, Lisa Caro, was born May 22, 1959 and life was sweet, with aviators avoiding combat.

Joe made the bold decision to join the Naval Reserve after completing active duty in 1959 and moved his young family to the Bronx where they lived in the same apartment building with Elizabeth's parents; Hans worked as the "Super" (Superintendent) of the building. Joe enrolled in Grad School at NYU, earning his MBA and jumped into the life insurance business wholeheartedly, aided by his strong work ethic and desire to care for his young family.

Shortly before their second child arrived, Liz and Joe bought their first home in New Shrewsbury, N.J., where baby Michele Liane, born Oct. 23, 1964, spent her first night.

A career opportunity prompted a move to Massachusetts where they lived in Needham for a short time before purchasing their second home in Framingham on Catherine Road. Friendly neighbors offered the tight knit fun camaraderie they'd missed since leaving their Navy friends behind in Orlando. After a blizzard, snowed-in neighbors enjoyed block parties!

Joe continued to fulfill his passion for the Navy and flight with monthly Naval Reserve weekend drills. Joe loved surprising Liz and his girls with a crate of fresh live lobster, since Maine was just another pit stop for Naval Reservists. Joe retired as Captain in the Naval Reserve after 32 years of service, one of his proudest achievements.

Summer, 1970 began with an irresistible job offer in Texas, but not before one final celebration enjoying lobster and popovers at one of Boston's finest restaurants. With gerbils Oscar and Felix and Siamese cat Cindy in tow and the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon packed to the gills, a stop in Niagara Falls seemed a priority, where Lisa and Michele boarded a plane, their first flight ever (and yes, without their parents) to skip the long arduous trek to Houston.

Grandparents Davenport shuttled Lisa and Michele from the airport in Omaha to Houston in the back of their camper pickup truck with no air conditioning in July, 1970! A transmission fail in the Vista Cruiser enroute was rarely spoken of. Liz and Joe's spirit of adventure propelled them forward and south. Houston became home for the next 45 years … building their first home on horse property.

Joe earned an MSFS from the American College in Bryn Mawr as well as professional designations CLU, ChFC and FLMI. Joe became a leader in the Galleria neighborhood business community, counseling business owners with estate planning and insurance and business continuation services until his retirement in 2015, celebrated with a surprise party including clients and associates of 40+ years!

Joe relished a memorable road trip with his three brothers, Dick, Jerry and Don, all enthusiastic car lovers, while they were all still enjoying good health and able to cherish time together. Liz's favorite car was a Cadillac; Joe's a "1960s sleek Oldsmobile Holiday Coupe, light green with white top."

Liz and Joe continued their passion for travel often with friends to Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Russia and Europe including visiting Elizabeth's relatives in Germany.

During their days in Houston, Liz and Joe custom-built a second home, then enjoyed a few years in Clear Lake near NASA, discovering their shared love of sailing. Their final home in The Woodlands proved fortuitous with a neighborhood of new precious friends, some who became fun travel companions and grabbed every opportunity to call a party.

With heavy hearts, Liz and Joe said goodbye to their home in the Woodlands and their wonderful neighbors, to make their final move to Austin to be close to daughter, Michele, and their grandson, Ethan.

Once again, Liz and Joe's enthusiasm for making new friends and creating community prevailed to help them enjoy their twilight years at Lakeline Oaks in Cedar Park, Texas.

Joe compassionately cared for Elizabeth as her health declined until her passing. Joe's devout Catholic faith sustained him his whole life, and was especially comforting during his final years.

Interment is at Houston National Cemetery alongside Elizabeth's brother, Commander Curt Kretzschmann.