Final Salute

John William Selby, 82, of Eldridge, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis Medical Center, Davenport surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. Burial will be in St. Ann’s Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at St. Ann’s. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to St. Ann’s Parish.

John was born on September 10, 1943, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, a son of William and Georgia (Gustafson) Selby. A lifelong learner, he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Iowa State University in 1968. He went on to earn an advanced degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He also earned two master’s degrees from St. Ambrose University. On June 2, 1969, John married the love of his life, Barbara Jean Maher, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Cumming, Iowa. Together, they shared 57 years of marriage and were blessed with three children.

John proudly served his country in the United States Navy as Seabee and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Following graduation, from Iowa State, John went to work for Kodak before beginning a twenty-two year tenure career with John Deere, first with being with a Systems Analyst at John Deere PDC Milan. Then worked at Heritage Health which later became John Deere Health Care. He retired as a Division Manager of Parts Systems at the Milan Parts Distribution Center in 2001.

John was deeply committed to his faith and community. He was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Bettendorf for over 45 years before moving to Eldridge and joining St. Ann’s.

Following his retirement, he continued his spirit of service by driving for the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center and volunteered at the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. In his free time, John was an avid reader who loved keeping himself busy with various projects around the home.

John is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; children, John Selby Jr., both of Eldridge, Jennifer (Brian) Carber, Bettendorf, and Patricia (Christopher) Barr, Clinton Township, Michigan; grandchildren Mikayla (Christopher) Lighthart, Nicholas, Tyler, and Jack Carber, Wyatt and David Barr; great-grandchildren: Lauren, Delaney, Emma, and Freya; and a brother and sister-in-law, Jim (Linda) Selby, Riverside, California.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Joan McClellan and Sherry Kuchel.