Gene R. Walker

A time to gather and celebrate the life of Gene R. Walker, 87, of Bettendorf, will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, downtown Davenport. Please dress casually. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or St. John Vianney - Haiti Mission. Gene died Saturday, May 10, 2025 at The Fountains Senior Living Community, Bettendorf.

Gene was born on March 15, 1938 in Maryville, Tennessee, a son of Raymond and Ruth (Shirley) Walker. Gene was very proud of his ancestors who included Sam Houston, Daniel Boone, and the first Governor of Tennessee, John Sevier. Growing up he hiked the Smokey Mountains with his Boy Scout Troop and later earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Gene graduated from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville with a degree in Electrical Engineering and later did graduate work through the University of Illinois. Gene was united in marriage to Diana Hall on June 28, 1969 in Bettendorf.

Gene retired after 38 years with ALCOA. He also worked for 10 years at Consolidated Aluminum and 3 years as a consultant at PCT.

In his earlier years, he was a member of AARP, NRA, Moose Club, Plus 60 Club and lifetime member of the IEEE. He attended St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Gene enjoyed volunteering for STEM programs including being a judge for science fair projects. He was very active in politics, putting up/taking down candidate signs, stuffing envelopes, and being a representative for Bettendorf. He also enjoyed sports car racing in Elkhart, Wisconsin, and enjoyed action movies and sci-fi novels. Gene was most proud of his children, his grandsons and his patents. He had an extremely sweet and loving soul and was a quiet thinker.

He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Diana, Bettendorf; son and his partner, Brent (Mario Serenil) Walker, Fresno, California; daughter and son-in-law, Susan (Jason) Walker Colsch Shellsburg, Iowa; grandsons, Elias and Emmett Colsch; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Nancy and Joe Bruno, New York; niece, Andrea Bruno; nephew, Joseph (Tina) Bruno; great-niece, Francesa Bruno, and many dear friends including: Pat Chanez, Rollie and Kay Fierce and Robert and Kathy Zimmerman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Steven; and his in-laws, Dorris and Francis “Buzz” Hall. May they rest in peace.

The Walker family would like to thank the staff at The Fountains as well as the nurses and team at St. Croix Hospice for all the loving and compassionate care given to Gene.