Martin `M.J.' Whitney

Funeral services for Martin J. "M.J." Whitney, 81, of East Moline, will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Anne Catholic Church, East Moline. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Moline.

Visitation will be 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at Van Hoe Funeral Home, East Moline, where a liturgy service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Lions Club.

Mr. Whitney died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005, at his home.

Mart was born Aug. 10, 1924, in Chicago, son of Edward M. and Mary Murphy Whitney II. He married Mona L. Adlfinger July 31, 1948, in Rock Island. She died Nov. 30, 1984.

Mart served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He retired in 1981 as a product engineer from the former International Harvester Works, East Moline, after 37 1/2 years of service.

He was very active in the community. He was an alderman for the City of East Moline from 1983-1989. For several years, he was in charge of the East Moline 4th of July Parade. He had been a member of the Elks Club, AMVETS, East Moline American Legion, Lions, East End Bolders Club, Moose Club and Vikings Club. He enjoyed playing golf, bowling and rolle bolle. He loved baseball and was a diehard Chicago Cubs fan. During the 1960s, he was president of the local Little League.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and David Collins, Bend, Ore.; sons and daughters-in-law, Kirk and Karen Whitney, Glastonburg, Conn., Tom and Sandy Whitney, Silvis, Edward and Catherine Whitney, Moline; grandchildren, Brandi, Colin, Darren, Dan, Joseph, James Jr., Sarah, Benjamin and Kayce; great-grandchildren, Campbell, James III and Layla; brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Ruth Whitney, Oakland County, Mich.; special friend and companion, Marilyn Besemer, Moline. He was preceded in death by his wife; grandson, Shane Whitney; his parents; and brother, Gerald Whitney.