John P. Lavelle

John P. Lavelle, 78, of Bettendorf, died Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for John will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Bettendorf. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island with military honors. Visitation will take place from 4 until 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home with a prayer service offered at 6 p.m. There will be additional visitation from 9:30 a.m. until Mass begins at St. John Vianney. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bettendorf Boosters or the Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter #776.

John Patrick Lavelle was born on May 8, 1947, in Chicago, a son of Thomas Donald and Theresa (McGowan) Lavelle. He grew up on the South side of Chicago in the early ‘60s, John graduated from Calumet High School and then attended Woodrow Wilson Junior College where he was a member of the 1966 football team until an injury ended his athletic career—and temporarily his academic one. He joined the Army in October of 1966; John eventually was sent to Vietnam in September of ’68. Following his discharge, John returned to college and graduated from Western Illinois University.

He was united in marriage to Martha Fentem on August 3, 1968, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Macomb, Illinois. She preceded him in death on April 5, 2016.

Following graduation from Western, Coach Lavelle’s first job was at Lee Central (Iowa) High School where he coached both football and girls’ basketball. After a brief stint at Lee, Coach Lavelle then returned to his home state of Illinois when he took a head football coaching job at Leaf River High School. After one season, he moved on—this time to the college ranks—when he returned to Western Illinois as a graduate assistant where he coached the junior varsity offensive line. A short time later Lavelle then settled in the Quad Cities when he was hired to teach at Rock Island High School and coach both the offensive and defensive ends.

In 1976 Coach Lavelle began his teaching and coaching career at Bettendorf High School. While at Bettendorf, Coach Lavelle taught English, and coached football, track, and golf. He helped create a football dynasty at Bettendorf, winning five state championships. In 1991, Coach Lavelle was honored with the Iowa Football Coaches Association “Assistant Coach of the Year.” However, his greatest honor was coaching his two sons as Bulldogs. He retired from teaching in 2005. Coach Lavelle briefly coached alongside Merv Habenicht with the Quad City Steamwheelers for the 2007 season.

John was a founding member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 776 and served as President, Vice President, Secretary and on their Board of Directors. He was part of the Vietnam Veterans of the Quad Cities Honor Guard for many years as well, providing military honors for his fellow veteran funerals. John also volunteered with hospice, visiting his fellow veterans at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice or at their homes. He was awarded the Governor’s Volunteer Award in 2015 by Governor Terry Brandstad and the 2020 Quad Citizen Award for his volunteer efforts.

John was authored many articles for magazines and other publications about veteran’s issues and coaching and other publications. He certainly enjoyed sharing and telling a story!

Those left to honor his memory are his sons: Stephen Lavelle, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and John and Emily Lavelle, Aiken, South Carolina; his six grandchildren: Kassidy Rose, Lucas John, Gabriel Ryne, and Naomi Violet Lavelle, all of the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and Kamryn Ann, and Ryne Patrick Lavelle of Aiken, South Carolina; his sister, Mary Malcrone, Chicago; sisters-in-law, Eleanore Lavelle, Linda Lavelle, Karen Lavelle, Joyce Fentem, Martha Pearl Fentem, and Luann Zoerner and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, Martha, John was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Paul, Donald, Thomas, and Michael. May they rest in peace.