Arthur W. Dawson

Arthur Dawson, of Freeport, Illinois, and San Benito, Texas, entered the presence of The Lord peacefully in his sleep in a Texas hospital dreaming of fishing on April 3rd, 2025, at the age of 91. He was loved by family and friends alike.

He was a retired Air Force Captain, graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a mechanical engineer for Microswitch (Honeywell) for over 40 years. He was an active member of the Community Reformed Church, where he served as a deacon for several years. He and his wife Joyce of 69 years attended The Light House Fellowship while in San Benito. He loved the Lord Jesus as his Savior and is now more alive than ever, praising and rejoicing in Him! He had many hobbies over his lifetime. He was a fisherman since the age of 2 and could catch fish in any body of water he was on or next to. He enjoyed many annual fishing trips with family and friends and passed that legacy on to his sons and grandsons. He was an avid golfer and participated in different leagues over his lifetime and taught the game to his sons and anyone else that asked. He was a Cubmaster when his sons were young and flew radio -controlled planes for a few years. Pegs & Jokers was his favorite game and he passed his love for it to family and friends. Some of our favorite memories of Dad are playing the game with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His friends introduced him to lapidary over 40 years ago, and he’s been a rockhound ever since. As a member of the Northwest Illinois Rock Club, he gained an encyclopedic knowledge of semi-precious stones. He used his skills as a lapidarist and silversmith to make jewelry enjoyed and worn by all who saw it, even working stones into stained glass pieces with his wife. If you read this, ask any of his sons about Leaverite. You could always find him searching at a rock pile or landscaping rock around restaurants, gas stations or just about anywhere looking for agates. He shared his love of the hobby with people both at his home workshop in Freeport and at the shop at the Fun-n-Sun Resort which was his winter home in Texas. He will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife Joyce Dawson, his brothers; John Dawson, Ken Dawson (Joyce), his sons; Arthur Dawson Jr. (Norma), Ward Dawson (Becky), Jack Dawson (Linda), five (5) grandchildren and nine (9) great grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held on May 3rd, 2025, at the Evangelical Free Church of Lena at 720 North Freedom Street, Lena, IL, at 11 am, with visitation starting at 9:30 am.