"Buck" Hedger
October 29, 1932 — January 16, 2017
"Buck" Hedger
Earnest “Buck” Hedger, 84, of Viola, Illinois died Monday, January 16, 2017 at Generations of Rock Island.
Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 20th at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola. Burial, with military rites, will be at Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, January 19th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola. Memorials may be left for Crime Stoppers of Mercer County.
Earnest was born October 29, 1932 in Burlington, Iowa a son of Earnest J. and Lena Boughton Hedger. After high school, he worked at John Deere before serving in the Army during the Korean Conflict. After his service time, he returned to John Deere; later meeting and marrying Ellen Appleby on Nov. 25, 1961 in Davenport. They operated a pony ride around the county. Buck worked for John Deere for 31 years until his retirement in 1989. He was well known in the area as “Buck the Can Man”. He was active in the community; from serving on the Crime Stoppers Board to driving the V.A. transport van. He was a lifetime member of the Aledo, then Viola, American Legion and Viola V.F.W. He enjoyed raising ponies and horses.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife: Ellen Hedger, Viola, IL; children: Jennifer (Tim Willits) Quick, Viola, Donald (Lisa) Hedger, Viola, Vicki (Jeff) Walsh, Cable, Charles (Karen) Hedger, Viola and Julia Doub, Viola; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and brothers: Kenny Hedger, Viola and Richard Hedger, Colorado Springs, CO.
He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter: Destiny Hedger and siblings: Robert Hedger and Ruby Ellis.
Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.
Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 20th at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola. Burial, with military rites, will be at Rock Island National Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday, January 19th from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola. Memorials may be left for Crime Stoppers of Mercer County.
Earnest was born October 29, 1932 in Burlington, Iowa a son of Earnest J. and Lena Boughton Hedger. After high school, he worked at John Deere before serving in the Army during the Korean Conflict. After his service time, he returned to John Deere; later meeting and marrying Ellen Appleby on Nov. 25, 1961 in Davenport. They operated a pony ride around the county. Buck worked for John Deere for 31 years until his retirement in 1989. He was well known in the area as “Buck the Can Man”. He was active in the community; from serving on the Crime Stoppers Board to driving the V.A. transport van. He was a lifetime member of the Aledo, then Viola, American Legion and Viola V.F.W. He enjoyed raising ponies and horses.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife: Ellen Hedger, Viola, IL; children: Jennifer (Tim Willits) Quick, Viola, Donald (Lisa) Hedger, Viola, Vicki (Jeff) Walsh, Cable, Charles (Karen) Hedger, Viola and Julia Doub, Viola; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren and brothers: Kenny Hedger, Viola and Richard Hedger, Colorado Springs, CO.
He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter: Destiny Hedger and siblings: Robert Hedger and Ruby Ellis.
Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.
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