Jack L. Fifer

Jack L. Fifer, 75, of Davenport, died Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Davenport.

Funeral services to celebrate Jack’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 until 4 p.m. at the funeral home with additional visitation held from 10 a.m. until the service begins on Monday. Memorials may be made to the family.

Jack Lavern Fifer was born on August 21, 1951, in Davenport, a son of Raymond and Doris (Sanders) Fifer. He proudly served our country from 1970 until 1972 in the Marine Corps. Jack was part of Force Recon and served in-county in Vietnam and later, as a drill instructor at Camp Lejeune. He was united in marriage to Debra J. “Debbie” Miller on May 8, 1976, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Davenport. They shared an incredible relationship and bond.

Jack worked for WG Block for many years driving a truck and after, he would do odd jobs for those he knew. However, his first job was as a shoeshine boy at the Blackhawk Hotel, and at the age of 12 was featured in an article in the Times-Democrat as the last shoeshine boy. When he was 23 years old, Jack and his brothers-in-law gained recognition in the Quad-City Times after heroically rescuing a drowning man from the Wapsipinicon River.

Jack was loved by anyone who met him, he made friends easily and was quick with a hug. He had a great and some would say “wacky” sense of humor. He was a collector of many things and found great joy in giving those he loved something he knew they would treasure. Jack enjoyed reading and would ride his bike all over town, usually ten miles a day before he got sick.

Those left to honor Jack’s memory are his wife of 50 years, Debbie, Davenport; children: Chad Miller, Buffalo, Iowa, and Kimberlee (Michael) Moraetes, Elgin, Illinois; grandchildren: Makayla Miller, Marissa Miller, Zachary Fifer, Gabriel Moraetes, Anthony Moraetes, Kirsten Moraetes, and Nicholas “Nicky” Moraetes; great-grandchildren: Julian and Luis; siblings: Rose (John Simons, Moscow, Iowa, Kirk Fifer, Donahue, Iowa, Bill Fifer, Candace Carter, Brian (Angie Mortimer) Fifer, all of Davenport, a nephew that was like a son, Jake Martin, Davenport, and many other nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Ray, Gary, and John Fifer, and Rick Timmerman. May they rest in peace.