John F. Monroe Jr.
April 5, 1948 - April 6, 2005

John F. Monroe Jr. Funeral service: 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 11, Orr's Mortuary, Rock Island, Ill. Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Sunday, April 10, funeral home. BETTENDORF, Iowa - John Franklin Monroe Jr., 57, of Bettendorf, died Wednesday, April 6, 2005 at the Genesis Medical Center, East Campus, Davenport. Burial will be in the National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. John was born April 5, 1948 in Davenport, the son of John Franklin Sr. and Velma Louise Monroe. He married Brenda Strickland June 24, 1968 in Muscatine. John was a United States Marine during the Vietnam War. He was owner and operator of his own barber shop in Davenport. He worked for Ruan Transportation; United Parcel Services and Brink Security. John was a shift commander at the Scott County Jail, later becoming a police officer in Blue Grass, with the rank of sergeant, second-in-command. He was the first African-American police officer in Blue Grass. He then became a police officer at the VA Hospital in Iowa City. He was also a security officer, with the rank of corporal, at the Arsenal in Rock Island, where he retired. John enjoyed reading the Bible, attending church, spending time with his family and singing. Survivors include two sons, John F. Monroe III (Maria), of Virginia Beach, Va. and Mark A. Monroe, Rock Island, Ill.; two grandchildren, Devin Farrell and Sydney Monroe; three brothers, Dennis L. Monroe, Gregory S. Monroe, both of Muscatine, Jeffery A. (Lynda) Monroe, Wilton; and sister, Eileen K. Wilmington, U.S. Navy, stationed in Virginia. John was preceded in death by his parents.

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