Mervin Mootz

Mervin "Bud" Peter Mootz, 82, of Davenport, passed away with his loving wife by his side Sunday, April 22, 2007, at Trinity Pathway Hospice, Bettendorf. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Davenport. Visitation will be 3-6 p.m. today at Runge Mortuary and Crematory. Burial will be in Blue Grass Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Davenport, or Trinity Pathway Hospice.
Bud was born, July 15, 1924, in Riceville, Iowa, to Peter John and Margaret Mootz.
He enlisted at age 17 and served his country during World War II in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Cowpens, The "Mighty Moo," in the South Pacific.
Bud married Helen Riddle in 1947 in Oregon. She passed away in 1951. He later married Carolyn Simkins in Berryville, Arkansas, in 1953. He was later united in marriage to Ruth Showalter on February 22, 1976, in Rock Island.
Bud worked for many years in the construction industry in the Quad-City area for several companies.
Bud grew up during the Great Depression and at age 17 persuading his mother to sign enlistment papers so he could serve his country during World War II. He raised six children and buried two sons and two beloved grandchildren. He started and ran several successful business during his lifetime. At the age of 65 survived a devastating heart attack and recovered as strong as ever. Bud provided strong loving support to his wife Ruth. With love for his family, his strong work ethic, his wonderful sense of humor and his never failing love and belief in God he was a genuine role model of a strong, loving and faithful husband and parent.
He enjoyed yearly reunions in North Carolina with his shipmates from the USS Cowpens. He loved working at home in his garden and also restoring vintage tractor and construction equipment. A devout Catholic he was a faithful parishioner of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Davenport. He especially enjoyed visiting with family and friends and spent many great and loving hours talking, teaching and listening to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Those left to honor his memory include his loving wife of 31 years, Ruth; sisters, JoAnne, Mary and Marcia, of Salem, Ore.; sons, Jack, of Raleigh, N.C., and Melvin (Karla), of Branson, Mo., and son, Michael Mincer, of Rock Island; daughters, Mary Nelson (Harold Nelson), of Wilton, Iowa, and Kathy Titus (Gary Titus), of Dallas Center, Iowa; 22 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Mervin was preceded in death by his father and mother, brothers, Justin and Cletus Mootz, and his sister, Betty, sons, Calvin and Douglas (Sandy Kachevas), and grandchildren, Jack Mootz Jr. and Jill Mootz.