Funeral services for Bill (“Cork”) Dunsworth Jr., 95, of Davenport will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Runge Mortuary in Davenport. Burial will follow at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will greet family and friends on Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Runge. Online condolences may be made at www.therungemortuary.com.
Bill passed away peacefully on November 13, 2024, at Silvercrest at Garner Assisted Living & Memory Care in Davenport under the compassionate care of Silvercrest and St. Croix Hospice staff.
William M. Dunsworth, Jr. was born on January 20, 1929, in Davenport, Iowa to William M., Sr. and Florence (Jacobs) Dunsworth. He was a kind, humble man who grew up as the middle child of six kids and part of an extended family that he loved dearly, endured the hard times of The Great Depression, and made numerous friends along the way.
Following his graduation from Davenport High School, he was employed in the Maintenance Department at the Rock Island Arsenal until his retirement in 1984 (“84 and out the door!”). There is where he met Barbara Cook. He and Barb were married in Rock Island, Illinois on November 25, 1954. During their 60 years of marriage, Bill and Barb built an extensive, loving family together.
His memberships included the Antique Automobile Club of America, where he was a charter member of the local Mississippi Valley Region of the AACA, and the Classic Car Club of America. Over the years, Bill enjoyed restoring his 1937 Buick, 1939 Packard V-12, 1940 Buick convertible, and 1941 Packard Limo, as well as participating in numerous out of town tours, car shows, parades, club meetings and other club functions.
For many years, he also enjoyed exhibiting his antique gas engines, camping with family, and meeting old and new friends at the annual Old Thresher’s Reunion each Labor Day weekend in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
One of his greatest joys was babysitting grandkids and he would rarely pass up a dish of ice cream, weekly meals at Steak-n-Shake, a beer with friends, (6+) cupcakes or a Snickers bar. He also loved his miniature pinschers he called “Pootsie” (all males named Duke and his most recent companion and only female, Tillie).
Surviving members of his family include – 4 Daughters: Susan (Dave) Hart of Jacksonville, FL, Dianna (Bill) Gardner and Kitty (Mike) Dougherty both of Davenport, and Kelly Roelandt of Long Grove, IA; a Son: William (Lisa) Dunsworth of Edmond, OK; and siblings Richard Dunsworth of Long Grove, IA, Sally Mechem of Bettendorf, IA, and sister-in-law Dolly Dunsworth of Davenport; Beloved Grandchildren include: Tina, Mike (Nancy), Alysson, Evan, Cori, Andrea (Aaron), Candace (Kyle), Jessica (Matthew), Jenna (Noah), Ashley (Nate), Aleq (Eric), Cydney (Matt), Rhedt (Leraaen) and Rhys; 18 Great-Grandchildren, 1 Great-great Grandchild, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Loved ones who preceded him in death include his wife Barbara, son Robert Dunsworth, son-in-law Brad Roelandt, sisters Janice (Wendell) Peiffer and Dorothy (Harry) Seligman, brother, Ira Dunsworth, brother-in-law, Joe Mechem, and great-granddaughter Sharlene Dougherty-Carlson.
