Salvador "Chavo" Lopez

Salvador "Chavo" J. Lopez, a beloved member of the community and cherished family man, passed away peacefully at his home on January 22, 2026, at the age of 97, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral Services and Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home. The family invites you to join them in a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the LULAC Scholarship Fund and Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Salvador J. Lopez was born on August 30, 1928 in Muscatine, the son of Frederico and Antonia Lopez. On March 20, 1951, he was united in marriage to Joan Nannette Garcia in Davenport, Iowa. Together, they created a loving home, blessed with six sons and two daughters.

A proud Army veteran of World War II and a retired National Guardsman, Chavo defined himself through his service and a dedicated 44-year career. Chavo's work life was characterized by a strong work ethic that spanned over four decades. He devoted 22 years to railroad maintenance and followed that with another 22 years as a truck driver for Sivyer Steel, before retiring in August 1990. His career was a testament to his resilience and dedication to providing for his family.

Chavo lived a life defined by service to his family and community as a devoted member of Sacred Heart Cathedral and was the last surviving charter member of the LULAC Club. Chavo not only contributed to the civil rights movement but also established an education funding Bingo at the LULAC club, showcasing his commitment to the betterment of his community. He was also a proud life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was widely admired for his kindness, quick wit, and readiness to help anyone in need.

Chavo was passionate about many things. He had a deep love for gardening, spent joyful moments cooking for family gatherings—where he was especially known for his cactus salad—and cherished his time with his family (and dogs!). A devoted sports fan, he was a supporter of the Cubs, Hawkeyes, and Bears, sharing his enthusiasm with friends and family alike.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Maria (Tim Dunker) Anderson, Salvador (Tumm) Lopez, Jr., Martin (Chris) Lopez, Matthew (Lynne) Lopez, Tom (Teresa) Lopez, Lisa (Decker Truesdell) Lopez, and Randy (LuAnn DeVol) Lopez, all of Davenport; daughter-in-law, Jayne Lopez; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and many more extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan; his son, Manuel Lopez; his daughter-in-law, Teresa Lopez; his granddaughter, Ashley Lopez; his great-grandson, Markus Abbott; his parents; and all of his siblings.

In his later years, Chavo received compassionate care from the Village Caregiving and Heartland Hospice, for which his family would like to extend heartfelt thanks.