Basil "Turtle" Duane Mathena, 62, of Moline, died Thursday, September 8, 2016 at Genesis Medical Center - Illini Campus, Silvis.  Services will be 12 (Noon) Monday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan.  Visitation will be Monday from 11 - 12 (Noon) at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented.  Memorials may be made in care of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.

Basil was born in Macomb, Ill. on November 18, 1953, a son of Basil D. and Moneta Young Mathena. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served during Vietnam.  He retired from the Illinois National Guard as a Motor Battalion Sergeant.

Basil married Laura Ramirez-Blackwood on March 1, 2002.

Basil was a member of the Milan American Legion Post 569, Past Commander of the Macomb V.F.W. Post 1921 where he was presented his lifetime V.F.W. membership, member of the Moline V.F.W. Post 2153, and member of the Rock Island Eagles and Rock Island Moose Lodge 190.  He enjoyed fishing, working on lawn mowers and grilling.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Mathena, Moline; children (and spouses), Robert Mathena, Idaho, Christine (Jeremy) Perea, Moline, Katie (Zack) Banks, Davenport, Tina (Rick) Imes, Rock Island, Richard Blackwood, Moline, Justin Blackwood, Davenport, Matthew Tapia, Texas and Nicole Montalvo, Chicago; grandchildren, Jade, Dylan and Zayden Perea, Talan Linn, Brielle and Tinleigh Banks, Jessica Hernandez, Gerard and Jayden Hoskins and Ashley and Marc Blackwood; great-grandchildren, Steven Hernandez IV and Jaxson Hernandez; and sister, Brenda Sipes, Macomb, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Marla Selby and Melinda Fischer.