George J. Hart, Jr.

George J. “Chico” Hart, 92, of Davenport, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Sept. 16, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family.

Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, under the direction of Trimble Funeral Home. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, private family services will be held at the Rock Island Arsenal. Memorials may be made to the family for a fund to be established in George’s memory.

George James Hart Jr. was born Sept. 17th, 1927 in Sycamore, Illinois, the son of George James Sr. and Margaret (Wells) Hart. He attended St. Ambrose Academy in Davenport and proudly served his country in the WWII era stationed in Guam. Being stationed in Guam, Chico had the opportunity to play a lot of baseball, he even played against some major league players who had been drafted into the service. He liked to talk about the time when he got two hits off of a major league pitcher! When George returned to the states, his coach in Guam wanted him to come play ball in the Cape Code league, but George headed back to Iowa because he was home sick.

George married Joan Bendt on Sept. 16, 1950 in Davenport and passed on their 70th wedding anniversary just hours shy of his 93rd birthday. George and Joan met while she was attending one of his baseball games in McCausland, Iowa… he always said he stepped on her foot on purpose to get her attention! He retired from Oscar Mayer and Audio Visual Electronics and for years ran Hart’s TV out of his home.

Chico loved all sports, especially baseball, bowling, and golf. He once shot a 709 with a hard rubber bowling ball with a conventional grip. In Chico’s early 40’s, Joan bought him some golf clubs and he responded…”that’s an old man’s game!” Chico went on to love golf into his 80’s and even recorded a hole-in-one at Emeis! He was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs fan.

George spent a lot of time coaching his kids and grandkids in baseball. He was heavily involved in his grand-children’s lives and made a lasting impact on all of them. Everyone knew “Chico” and he loved to share a joke with you! He cherished his family and will be deeply missed.

Survivors include his wife, Joan of Davenport; his daughters, Nancy Pribyl and Jan (James) Klindt, both of Bettendorf, Iowa; his sons, Joe Hart of Ottawa, Illinois, Jerry (Peggy) Hart of Muscatine, Iowa, and Tim (Tricia) Hart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his sister, Joanne Swanson of Davenport; his brother, Larry (Linda) Hart of Rock Island, Illinois; grandchildren, Brandon, Amber, Barrett, Andriana, Shannon, Stephanie, Shane, Jamie, Jeff, Julie, Chad, Robert, Michelle, Jennifer, Jackie, Justin, Aubrey, Sam, and Charlie, and great-grandchildren, Tobey, Bailey, Layton, Nathan, Beau, Kaylee, Memphis, Stellan, Kali, Mark, Ella, Nolan, Maddie, Isabella, Lily, Jaxon, Eli, Caleb, Rylan, Emma.

George was preceded in death by his parents, George Sr. and Margaret; brothers, Bob, Dick, and John; sisters, Janie and Janelle, and son Tom.

Friends are encouraged to leave memories of Chico or send condolences to the family at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.