James Partridge

James “Jim” Partridge, 97, of Ridgecrest Village and formerly of Bettendorf, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Per his request, his body has been cremated. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. The family will receive friends from 10 am until time of services. Memorials may be made to the church or the Quad City Symphony. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, assisted the family.

James Arthur Partridge was born in Mt. Vernon, IL, on November 11, 1927, the son of Charles and Amy (Stocker) Partridge. He graduated from Highland High School in Highland, Il, earned a BSC from Illinois State University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois. He taught vocal and instrumental music in Pekin High School, vocal music in Urbana and Moline High Schools. He also directed choirs in First Presbyterian Church in Pekin, First Methodist Church in Urbana and Christ Family in Bettendorf. He was a Director of Chamber Music for thirteen years.

 After leaving teaching, Jim worked at Griggs Music and developed the school band and orchestra division. Later, he purchased Griggs from the Griggs Family. In 1985 he married Sandra Rice. In 1999, Jim retired and sold the music store to four employees. Jim and Sandy were able to take many wonderful trips.

 Jim was a Befriender, a Stephen Minister, a member of Davenport Art Museum, Friends of Art, Past President of Rock Island Art Guild, a member of the Visiting Artist Board, supported membership in the Putnam Museum, the Quad City Symphony, Friends of Chamber Music Board, the Quad City Botanical Center, Davenport Club and the Outing Club. For many years, Jim would order a truckload of oranges and grapefruit which he donated to local churches to be sold.

 Jim enjoyed travel, playing euchre, cooking and entertaining family and friends and was called upon to make the gravy and ask the blessing. He was a gentle soul to all who knew him. His gentle smile and kind ways will be missed, but always remembered. He was both loyal and supportive. His Ridgecrest family will always remember him walking his cat “Yoda”.

Survivors include his wife Sandra, niece Trudy (Bruce) Bailey; bonus daughters Mindy (Matthew) Nickels, Jody (Paul) Hein, and Kristy (Charlie) Anderson; grandchildren Amber (Michael) Ernst, Lindsay MacMillan, Sara (Max) Ray, Dustin Nickels, Joshua (Jamie) Stanger, Kyle (Sammi) Nickels, Hannah (Josh) Kennedy; and seventeen great grandchildren.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents Charles and Amy Partridge, first wife Marjorie, sister Roberta Graff, and nephew Steven Graff.