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Bernard E. Davis
BERNARD E. DAVIS
Belleville, Ill.
Bernard E. Davis, 88, passed away early Saturday morning, April 9, 2022. He lived in Belleville, Ill., with his daughter, Linda Wittman, and her husband, Charles Wittman. He died from Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson's complications.
Bernard was born in Hopkinton, Iowa, on Aug. 10, 1933, to Robert and Letha Davis. He was raised on his grandparent's farm in Edgewood, Iowa, with his two brothers, Bob and Harrold Davis. Bernard served in the Korean War and after returning home to Iowa married Velma Kelchen. After the birth of their daughter, Roxanna, they moved to California, where Bernard worked for his father until he started his own painting business. They had four more children, Linda, Cheryl, Hope and Roy, while living in California. Not long after Roy's birth, they moved back to Iowa, where Bernard started Davis Contracting, a successful painting business. Shortly thereafter, he opened a paint store in Strawberry Point, Iowa, with Velma and close family friends. Life took a turn and Bernard and Velma divorced, the paint store was closed, and he remarried. They had a son named Jason. Bernard eventually changed the name of his painting business to Davis and Son Contracting, bringing his son, Roy, into the business. In 1984, Bernard was severely injured in a work accident. It left him 100-percent disabled and the business was shut down. He was left with nothing. However, Bernard's never-give-up attitude and indomitable spirit helped him to against all odds begin a life of adventure. Bernard spent years in Montana, Arizona and Missouri hunting, fishing, horseback riding, four-wheeling, hiking, and exploring and photographing the vast wonderlands available to him. Bernard made friends where ever he lived and had a full and exciting life.
Bernard is survived by his brother, Harrold, daughters, Roxanne Drees, Linda Wittman (husband Charlie), Cheryl Pro (husband Jeffery) and Hope Davis; sons, Roy Davis (wife Karen) and Jason Davis (wife Stephanie). Bernard also is survived by 16 grandchildren and their spouses and 20 great-grandchildren.
Bernard will be buried in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay, Mo.. The date of interment is yet to be determined.
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