John J. Morrissey, Jr.

John Joseph Morrissey, Jr. was born in Davenport, Iowa on March 4, 1936 to Clara Margaret (Kenny) and John J. Morrissey, Sr. He attended Holy Family Grade School, St. Ambrose Academy High School, and St. Ambrose University.  John proudly served our country in the Army and was stationed at Fort Sheridan on the northside of Chicago.

John met Helen Baker through mutual friends as she attended nursing training at St. Ambrose University. They went from being friends to formally dating to uniting in marriage on June 29, 1959 at St. James Catholic Church in Washington, Iowa.  Later this month, they would have celebrated 63 years of marriage and memories together. They both had an appreciation for music, woodwork, fishing, their grandchildren, and most importantly one another.

John worked for his father as a carpenter before he spent 42 years at St. Ambrose University as Director of the University's physical plant (a job he took over from his father). Meeting the challenges of maintaining a widespread and well-kept campus was a longstanding source of pride in the Morrissey family. When John retired from St. Ambrose in 2002, the university honored him with the naming of the John Morrissey Gallery in the Fine Arts Department. The university later honored both John and Helen by presenting them with the McMullen Award, an honor reserved for individuals who embody St. Ambrose University’s mission of enriching the lives of others. John was proud to be a member of Holy Family Parish, Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree, and a president of the Lions Club.

Although John lived a life of substantial accomplishment, John was most proud of the time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.  He installed swings wherever he went, taught them Euchre at an early age, brought and hid his own secret spoon to every Spoons game, freely doled out ice cream, raced Hot Wheels cars, and always had a an “Ole” joke on hand.

When he was not working (his favorite hobby), John kept himself busy building furniture for family, telling jokes, fishing, studying politics and learning about trains. He was also an avid music lover, an accomplished piano player and enjoyed outings to the symphony and to local shows at the Bettendorf band shell. In 1991, he built a lake house in Hayward, Wisconsin, where he and Helen enjoyed entertaining family and friends for 30 years.

John died on Sunday, June 12, 2022 surrounded by family at Trinity Hospital in Bettendorf.

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Helen, Bettendorf; children: John “Jay” (Cheryl) Morrissey, Marion, Iowa, Peggy (Mitchell) Burdick, Des Plaines, Illinois, and Thomas (Jennifer) Morrissey, Elmhurst, Illinois; grandchildren: Ben, Katie, and Carolyn (Austin Pluff) Morrissey, Luke Burdick, and Sarah, John “Jack”, and Danny Morrissey; brother and sisters-in-law: Tim (Susan) Morrissey, Davenport, and Barbara Morrissey, Grand Mound, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Msgr. Michael Morrissey and Patrick Morrissey.  May they rest in peace.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1923 Fillmore Street, Davenport.  He will be interred at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.  Friends may visit with the family from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Thursday June 16, 2022 at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, 614 N Main Street, Davenport, where a prayer service will be held at the conclusion at 6:00 p.m. There will be an additional visitation at Holy Family Catholic Church from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. before the mass on Friday, June 17^th.