James "Jim" Hayek

James “Jim” Hayek, 72, of Davenport, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at MercyOne Medical Center, Davenport.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, November 24, 2025 at Halligan-McCabe DeVries Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 3:00 – 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Eunice Hayek.

Jim was born on August 7, 1953 in San Diego, California, son of James and Shirley (Huggins) Hayek. He was united in marriage to Eunice Jensen on June 25, 1977.

Jim was a graduate of Davenport Central High School where he was very involved with a number of sports including swimming/diving, football, and baseball. A few of his many accomplishments in these activities included leading his high school baseball team to state and winning 3 consecutive years. Jim also took pride in beating the “overall score” record in the state of Iowa for diving as a Junior and then beating it again as a Senior. He also carried on his football career at Western Illinois University with a full-ride scholarship until an injury ended that career but started his full-time career as an electrician with the IBEW (Local Union 145) in Rock Island, Il.

Jim loved his community; he was honored when he was elected to hold a seat on the Davenport Community School Board and did so happily and with reverence for a number of terms. From there he felt a new responsibility to the community he lived and loved; he ran for and successfully won a place on the Davenport City Council as the 5th Ward Alderman. With his background largely being in construction and development, he prided himself on working with his constituents on the growth, development, and expansion of the city he loved.

After retiring from work and the public eye he found solace in escaping away in many ways. One included riding his John Deere mower in yards in abundance including (but not limited) to his own, his family’s, and the neighbors even though there were times they didn’t want him to; he still loved thinking/knowing he was helping others. Another escape included vacationing to Lake Geneva with his wife and some of his best friends annually. He found endless joy in sharing the dinner table with family & friends especially at Uncle Pete’s Gyros and Antonella’s Pizza. Jim cherished being an “extended father” to his nephew Andrew Hayek and his family including Andrew’s wife Michelle Cassady-Hayek and two son’s Wyatt and Beau. He also looked forward to the time he spent with other extended family members that would visit him including his favorite sister in-law Connie Olsen Hayek & Amy Dolph-Gimmy. Jim’s favorite family (however) without a doubt or question included his favorite athletic grandson Mason Lee Gersdorf, his favorite musical grandson Sawyer Quinn Gehret, and his favorite artistic granddaughter Izzabella Marie Hayek. His grandkids brought him more joy in his life than anything he could possibly ask for; their smiles, laughs, talents, and just genuine selves made him smile in a way that no other person or thing could compete with.

Those left to honor his memory include: his wife Euince; children Erin (Scot) Gehret and Erik Hayek; favorite grandchildren Mason, Sawyer, and Izzabella; siblings Joany (Jeff) Curtis and Joelyn (Bill) Aukerman & sister in-law Connie Olsen-Hayek

He was preceded in death by parents, siblings Jeff “Duke” Hayek and Julie Hayek, and favorite “to-be” daughter-in-law Abby Vermeire.