John F. Davis

John F. Davis

Urbandale

John F. Davis was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 15, 1918, the son of Elwood Bertholf and Vinnie Marie Burch Bertholf Davis. He graduated from Roosevelt High School, the University of Iowa (BA 1942) and Harvard Law School (JD 1948). He practiced law in Des Moines for about 40 years.

He served one term as Justice of the Peace for Bloomfield Township and as Mayor of Fort Des Moines (when the Fort was primarily used for veterans housing). He served on the Des Moines Board of Adjustment.

After retirement, he audited one course each spring and fall at Drake University, taking the tests when permitted (as they usually were) by the professors. He took over 20 classes.

He made a number of Friendship Force trips to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, staying with families in those countries. He hosted Friendship Force visitors from other countries and welcomed visits to the US from foreign families with whom he had stayed.

He was a member of the Lions Club from the 1950's until his death. He particularly enjoyed the company of his fellow Lions and thanks them for their warm friendships.

He also played bridge with a long time group and thanks them for their friendship.

John was a retired Air Force Colonel. He spent over 3 years on active duty, initially in various locations around the US, then 21 months with the 455th Bomb Group at Cerignola, Italy. He was in the Air Force reserve for the balance of his 30 years in the Air Force, for many of those years as the commander of his unit. He participated in a World War II veterans Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2010.

John was an exceptional athlete. He was a high school wrestler and college boxer. He competed in Nastar downhill snow skiing for over 40 years, through age 92, winning over 300 gold and platinum medals. He was ranked #1, #2, or #3, a number of times, nationally, in his age group in Nastar rankings.

He windsurfed at his lake house at Clear Lake until he was age 94, which largely replaced his waterskiing. He was an exceptional golfer, croquet player, and ping pong player. He holds two records in the Iowa Senior Olympics.

John regularly, and mostly daily, played the piano from about junior high school until his death, playing at home, at Des Moines senior centers, and on the grand piano in the Deerfield lobby.

From 2007, John lived at the Deerfield retirement home in Urbandale, with his wife Jane Hayes Davis, who survives him. He was particularly pleased by meeting many new (and some old) friends at Deerfield.

John's wife of 64 years, Marian (Ann) Louise Leicht Davis, predeceased him.

John is also survived by his daughter, Karen Davis, and her husband, John Langbein, of Redwood City, California, by his son, Craig E. Davis, and his wife, Katy Davis, of Austin, Texas, by his grandsons, Ian Davis and Conor Davis, of Austin, Texas, and by his great-grandsons, Reed Davis and Hayes Davis, of Austin, Texas.

A memorial service for John will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, February 13, at the Deerfield retirement home, at 13731 Hickman Road, in Urbandale, in the lobby, just inside the front door.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Deerfield Foundation, addressed to Deerfield Foundation, 13731 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa 50323.