Elmer Ferguson

Elmer "Babe" Ferguson, 87, of Keithsburg, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at Mercer County Hospital, Aledo. Services are 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at First Christian Church, Keithsburg. Burial is in Greenmound Cemetery, Keithsburg. Visitation is 4-6 p.m. Friday at the church. Dennison Funeral Home, Aledo, is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church or Keithsburg Volunteer Ambulance. He was born Aug. 13, 1918, in Keithsburg, the son of D. Vearl and Florence Hannig Ferguson. He married Edith V. Gaylor Aug. 20, 1938, in Muscatine, Iowa. He had worked at Staats Manufacturing and later at Cannon Bronze, Keithsburg. He then worked at the John Deere Administration Building for a cleaning service, retiring in 1984. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. He was mayor of Keithsburg from 1969-1977. Babe was also instrumental in getting the levee built in Keithsburg. He was an active member of the First Christian Church, Keithsburg. He had been a member of the Keithsburg Fire Department and Keithsburg Lion's Club. Survivors are wife, Edith Ferguson, Keithsburg; twin daughters and son-in-law, Lois Frieden, Keithsburg, Louise and Tom Whitehall, East Moline; son and daughter-in-law, Dempsy and Nancy Ferguson, Aledo; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and one on the way; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Vearl; and an infant brother.