Obituary: Walter Bredbeck

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Walter (Walt) Craig Bredbeck, 91, a longtime resident of Davenport and LeClaire, passed away peacefully at Fountain West in Des Moines on Monday, Aug. 20, where he had been residing since 2012, surrounded by his family at the time of his passing.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady St., Davenport, followed by a luncheon at the church.

Walter Craig Bredbeck was born and delivered by his grandfather (Dr. William Berry, a pediatrician) on Sept. 17, 1926, in Omaha, Neb., to Walter Benjamin and Frances Marie (Berry) Bredbeck. He graduated from Benson High School in 1944 and from Iowa State University in 1950 in electrical engineering. But not before registering for the draft and entering the Navy to serve in WWII in the South Pacific.

Walter then returned to Iowa State to finish his degree. Upon graduation he went to work as an industrial engineer for Iowa Illinois Gas & Electric and moved to Davenport for his entire professional career of 41 years. Walter finally retired in 1992. Upon moving to the Quad Cities, he met his sweetheart, and on Jan. 5, 1952, he married Leone Mable Porth, who shared his loving of dancing, theater, travel and adventure. Travel they did, to five continents!

Many great family camping trips, white water canoe trips, hiking, wilderness backpacking and SCUBA diving. Walter was an excellent, award-winning photographer and has left us a treasure trove of great photos and he was well known for his slide shows. He loved to play golf, was active in Boy Scouts as a Scout Master, Davenport Swim Team president, the Rotary Club of North Scott, and the Blackhawk Hiking Club.

He loved running the Bix 7 well into his 80s and also loved making up and telling his own jokes. Walt also enjoyed playing bridge, crossword puzzles and reading. He could have a conversation with you on almost any subject or current event.

Walter is survived by his three sons, Bruce Craig Bredbeck and his wife Beverly, Denver, Colo., Daniel James Bredbeck of Des Moines, and Walter Neal Bredbeck and his wife Jane of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; four grandchildren, Jonathan Bredbeck (Samantha), Brooke Bredbeck, Michael Bredbeck, and Connor Bredbeck and several loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Benjamin Bredbeck and Frances Marie Bredbeck, his wife Leone Bredbeck in 2006, his sister Ade Marie Grell in 2016, and his daughter-in-law Stacy Bredbeck in 2018.

 

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