Captain Donn L. "Ike" Williams, 72, passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at Select Specialty Hospital, Davenport, to whom the family is grateful for their compassion and care.
A public riverside tribute celebrating the life of Capt. Donn L. "Ike" Williams will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Upper Mississippi Fleeting, 128 Front St., Buffalo, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Comfortable attire and flat shoes are suggested. After the tribute and celebration, the public is invited to a luncheon at the Buffalo Community Center, 426 Clark St. Memorials may be made to Living Lands & Waters, 17624 Route 84 N, East Moline, IL 61244.
Donn L. Williams was born March 5, 1937, in Rock Island, to Capt. Loren Albert "Shorty" Williams and Norma Christina Fahrenkrug Williams.
Donn graduated from DeWitt High School in 1955, and later, with his father, sister and two brothers, established Williams Marine Enterprise, the first barge fleeting business in the Quad-Cities area, located in Buffalo.
Capt. Williams was a world-class boat pilot and mentor to many other pilots, including his four sons, and was an active member and president of the Propeller Club. After retiring from Williams Marine, he became involved in the gaming boat industry before retiring in Bettendorf. He loved woodworking, tinkering, reading and sharing his wealth of love and understanding. Donn is also well-known in the river industry and local community for his good nature, quick wit and entertaining river stories.
In 2009, Capt. Walt Bassow, a long-time friend and protege of the Williams family honored the legacy of Capt. Williams by christening a vessel in his name, the Donn L. Williams, which can be seen switching barges in the Quad-Cities harbor.
Donn was a brilliant man, teacher, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend; a true gentleman who will be greatly missed.
He is survived by Jean L. McFedries, Keenan McFedries, and extended family, Bettendorf; his brother, Capt. Larry D. Williams (Darlene), Bettendorf; four sons, Capt./Rev. Jay Williams (Sherry), Bettendorf, Capt. Ward Williams (Laurie), Bettendorf, Capt. Reed Williams, Davenport, Capt. Clay Williams, St. Charles, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Capt. Linda Williams and Capt. Mark Williams.
A public riverside tribute celebrating the life of Capt. Donn L. "Ike" Williams will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Upper Mississippi Fleeting, 128 Front St., Buffalo, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Comfortable attire and flat shoes are suggested. After the tribute and celebration, the public is invited to a luncheon at the Buffalo Community Center, 426 Clark St. Memorials may be made to Living Lands & Waters, 17624 Route 84 N, East Moline, IL 61244.
Donn L. Williams was born March 5, 1937, in Rock Island, to Capt. Loren Albert "Shorty" Williams and Norma Christina Fahrenkrug Williams.
Donn graduated from DeWitt High School in 1955, and later, with his father, sister and two brothers, established Williams Marine Enterprise, the first barge fleeting business in the Quad-Cities area, located in Buffalo.
Capt. Williams was a world-class boat pilot and mentor to many other pilots, including his four sons, and was an active member and president of the Propeller Club. After retiring from Williams Marine, he became involved in the gaming boat industry before retiring in Bettendorf. He loved woodworking, tinkering, reading and sharing his wealth of love and understanding. Donn is also well-known in the river industry and local community for his good nature, quick wit and entertaining river stories.
In 2009, Capt. Walt Bassow, a long-time friend and protege of the Williams family honored the legacy of Capt. Williams by christening a vessel in his name, the Donn L. Williams, which can be seen switching barges in the Quad-Cities harbor.
Donn was a brilliant man, teacher, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend; a true gentleman who will be greatly missed.
He is survived by Jean L. McFedries, Keenan McFedries, and extended family, Bettendorf; his brother, Capt. Larry D. Williams (Darlene), Bettendorf; four sons, Capt./Rev. Jay Williams (Sherry), Bettendorf, Capt. Ward Williams (Laurie), Bettendorf, Capt. Reed Williams, Davenport, Capt. Clay Williams, St. Charles, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Capt. Linda Williams and Capt. Mark Williams.
Captain Donn L. "Ike" Williams, 72, passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at Select Specialty Hospital, Davenport, to whom the family is grateful for their compassion and care.
A public riverside tribute celebrating the life of Capt. Donn L. "Ike" Williams will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Upper Mississippi Fleeting, 128 Front St., Buffalo, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Comfortable attire and flat shoes are suggested. After the tribute and celebration, the public is invited to a luncheon at the Buffalo Community Center, 426 Clark St. Memorials may be made to Living Lands & Waters, 17624 Route 84 N, East Moline, IL 61244.
Donn L. Williams was born March 5, 1937, in Rock Island, to Capt. Loren Albert "Shorty" Williams and Norma Christina Fahrenkrug Williams.
Donn graduated from DeWitt High School in 1955, and later, with his father, sister and two brothers, established Williams Marine Enterprise, the first barge fleeting business in the Quad-Cities area, located in Buffalo.
Capt. Williams was a world-class boat pilot and mentor to many other pilots, including his four sons, and was an active member and president of the Propeller Club. After retiring from Williams Marine, he became involved in the gaming boat industry before retiring in Bettendorf. He loved woodworking, tinkering, reading and sharing his wealth of love and understanding. Donn is also well-known in the river industry and local community for his good nature, quick wit and entertaining river stories.
In 2009, Capt. Walt Bassow, a long-time friend and protege of the Williams family honored the legacy of Capt. Williams by christening a vessel in his name, the Donn L. Williams, which can be seen switching barges in the Quad-Cities harbor.
Donn was a brilliant man, teacher, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend; a true gentleman who will be greatly missed.
He is survived by Jean L. McFedries, Keenan McFedries, and extended family, Bettendorf; his brother, Capt. Larry D. Williams (Darlene), Bettendorf; four sons, Capt./Rev. Jay Williams (Sherry), Bettendorf, Capt. Ward Williams (Laurie), Bettendorf, Capt. Reed Williams, Davenport, Capt. Clay Williams, St. Charles, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Capt. Linda Williams and Capt. Mark Williams.
A public riverside tribute celebrating the life of Capt. Donn L. "Ike" Williams will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Upper Mississippi Fleeting, 128 Front St., Buffalo, with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Comfortable attire and flat shoes are suggested. After the tribute and celebration, the public is invited to a luncheon at the Buffalo Community Center, 426 Clark St. Memorials may be made to Living Lands & Waters, 17624 Route 84 N, East Moline, IL 61244.
Donn L. Williams was born March 5, 1937, in Rock Island, to Capt. Loren Albert "Shorty" Williams and Norma Christina Fahrenkrug Williams.
Donn graduated from DeWitt High School in 1955, and later, with his father, sister and two brothers, established Williams Marine Enterprise, the first barge fleeting business in the Quad-Cities area, located in Buffalo.
Capt. Williams was a world-class boat pilot and mentor to many other pilots, including his four sons, and was an active member and president of the Propeller Club. After retiring from Williams Marine, he became involved in the gaming boat industry before retiring in Bettendorf. He loved woodworking, tinkering, reading and sharing his wealth of love and understanding. Donn is also well-known in the river industry and local community for his good nature, quick wit and entertaining river stories.
In 2009, Capt. Walt Bassow, a long-time friend and protege of the Williams family honored the legacy of Capt. Williams by christening a vessel in his name, the Donn L. Williams, which can be seen switching barges in the Quad-Cities harbor.
Donn was a brilliant man, teacher, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend; a true gentleman who will be greatly missed.
He is survived by Jean L. McFedries, Keenan McFedries, and extended family, Bettendorf; his brother, Capt. Larry D. Williams (Darlene), Bettendorf; four sons, Capt./Rev. Jay Williams (Sherry), Bettendorf, Capt. Ward Williams (Laurie), Bettendorf, Capt. Reed Williams, Davenport, Capt. Clay Williams, St. Charles, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Capt. Linda Williams and Capt. Mark Williams.
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