Kevin Feeney

Kevin Scott Feeney, 70, of Davenport, died peacefully in his sleep Thursday, July 11, 2024, at his home after a months-long battle with cancer. 

A Celebration of Life will be held for him from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the Davenport Elks Lodge. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, Illinois, under the direction of Cremation Society of the Quad Cities.

Kevin was born July 28, 1953, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport, the fourth born child of Sterlin and Alice Feeney. He attended Monroe Elementary School and Frank L. Smart Junior High, where he was known for wearing brightly colored cardigans with matching socks. He graduated in 1971 from Davenport West High School, where he played baseball and was sports editor of the school newspaper. Some say he was the best two-strike hitter ever and his ability to scoop up errant throws to first base was second to none. He later switched from baseball to slow-pitch softball and was an excellent left-handed pitcher. 

Kevin attended the University of Northern Iowa but halted his studies after three years. He married Michelle Curtis on August 16, 1975, in Davenport. Their daughter, Kimberly, was born May 30, 1980. He married Patsy Thompson on January 22, 1986, in Orion, Ill. They welcomed a daughter, Kathleen, on July 28, 1988, his 35th birthday. 

Kevin worked at a few different restaurants, including Ponderosa, Chef’s Hat and the Drawbridge before finding his passion in helping others. He worked with special needs adults most of his life, including at ARC, New Choices and Vera French. He also mentored children in the before- and after-school Stepping Stones program at Wilson Elementary School. 

Kevin spent his life putting others before himself. After the death of his brother-in-law, Kevin and his family moved in with his sister to help raise his niece and nephew. Kevin coached his daughter’s softball teams while playing softball himself. 

Determined to get his college degree, he proudly graduated from Western Illinois University in 1997. 

Kevin did not have a teaching degree, but he was the best teacher of all. He taught his daughters, nieces and nephews how to drive. He taught his grandchildren how to tend a garden. He corrected everyone when they sang a song lyric wrong. Kevin loved to trick people with riddles and brain teasers, which helped to teach common sense and logical thinking. He was an amazing cook and loved to teach people how to be good at it while passing down his recipes. He loved to teach his family members how to play games such as Risk and Civilization while also teaching the lesson that you shouldn’t make bets that you can’t afford to pay back. 

Kevin loved the simple things in life, including Chex Mix, Maid-rites, black licorice, Harris pizza, the ocean and turtles. He enjoyed singing Karaoke and was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Wizards.

He was a homebody, and you could often find him at the computer playing Strat- o-Matic baseball or basketball or in front of the television watching “Matlock,” “Jeopardy!” or the movie “Rio Bravo.”

The greatest joy in his life, however, came from his family. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-nieces and great-nephews. 

Kevin was a kind, generous, compassionate, patient, gentle soul with the best sense of humor. He encouraged others to keep going when times got tough and would encourage us to do that now in his passing. 

Survivors include his wife, Patsy; daughters, Kimberly Feeney and Kathleen (Lucus) Gustafson; grandchildren, Riley (Summer), Addison, Geneva and Grayson Gustafson; sisters, Carol (Robert) Border, and Lucinda Resnick; brothers, Mike, Mark and Chris (Debbie) Feeney; brother-in-law, Andrew Thompson; and father-in-law, Bill Thompson. 

The family would like to especially thank Jennifer Lofquist from Beacon of Hope Hospice for her care and kindness during Kevin’s last days.

Condolences may be shared at CremationQC.com.