Peter C. Babcock, 80, of Bettendorf, formerly of Moline, passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 at home, surrounded by family.

Funeral services are 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island. Burial is at Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral Home. Additional visitation is Noon until service time Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Peter C. Babcock was born March 18, 1934, in Kewanee, Ill., a son of Drury Albert and Sarah Marne Andersen Babcock. He married Donna M. Simmons on Oct. 18, 1964, in Moline. She died Sept. 11, 1997.

Pete grew up on the family farm and graduated from Galva High School. In high school he competed in football and basketball and played in the marching band. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. In college, he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, where he made friends he kept his entire life.

Following college, Pete served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960. It was here that he began to see the world and developed a passion for travel that never left him.

He returned to the Quad-Cities after the service and took a job with International Harvester (later Navistar). He worked there for 25 years as a Human Resources and Labor Relations Manager. He retired in 1989. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and member of Masonic Lodge 243 A.F. &A. M., Galva, Ill.

Pete never lost his love of the land and stayed involved in farming. He was a great outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing. He never missed an opportunity to head North to Canada to fish with his closest friends. When he wasn't fishing, he loved golf and tennis and played as often as he could his entire life. He traveled extensively throughout his lifetime and was fortunate to see much of this planet. He was an accomplished amateur photographer, anyone fortunate enough to be in the room when the slide projector came out, over the years, never forgot one of his slide shows. Pete was also an avid reader. He read books by the thousands and collected many. He was a founding member of "The Literary Club", a group that grew to great size and continues to meet from time to time to this day.

Pete's pride and joy and heart belonged to his family. He believed nothing came before them and dedicated his life to ensuring the comfort and safety of the people that he held dearest.

He was honest to fault, forthright and kind to all. He was quick with a joke and outspoken about the issues of the day that mattered most to him. He was also an outstanding husband and father, a proud grandfather and a loyal and true friend.

Those left to celebrate his memory include his daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Tod Luppen, Bettendorf, and Susan and Thomas Piercy, Denver, Colo.; grandchildren, Benjamin and Hannah Luppen, Bettendorf, and Emily and Tommy Piercy, Denver; four stepgrandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, James A. and Carol Babcock, San Francisco, Calif.; his special companion, Ronny Hallin; and his many friends near and far.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Donna and a few good fishin' buddies. Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.