William I. Moon, III, 64, of Bettendorf, the president of the Iowa 80 Group and a longtime supporter of many community activities and groups, died unexpectedly on Thursday, July 16.
The funeral is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the Calvary Church of Walcott, followed by burial at Walcott Cemetery with lunch to follow at Calvary Church. Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. today, Monday, July 20, at Runge Mortuary, 838 E. Kimberly Road, Davenport.
Go here for more information on funeral services.
“Will Moon was a generous man and an incredible leader. The best thing we can do to honor his legacy is to be as generous with our time, advice and support as he was to his family, his Iowa 80 and CAT Scale family and the Walcott, Quad Cities and University of Iowa communities he so selflessly supported. He will be missed by so many,” the Iowa 80 Group said in a statement.
For many people in the community, Mr. Moon was known for being the owner of his family business – the Iowa 80 Group in Walcott, known as the “World’s Largest Truckstop.”
His father, Bill Moon, created the business more than 60 years ago, and the business has been steadily expanding to meet customer needs. Today, the sprawling Iowa 80 Truckstop includes a gift store, the Super Truck Showroom, a dentist, a barber shop, a chiropractor, a workout room, laundry facilities, a 60-seat movie theater, a trucker’s TV lounge, 24 private showers, and many restaurant options including the Iowa 80 Kitchen. Iowa 80 currently serves more than 5,000 customers per day and has well-lit parking for 900 tractor-trailers, 250 cars and 20 buses.
The Iowa 80 Truckstop also just hosted the 48th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree celebration early this month.
Mr. Moon took over leadership of the Iowa 80 Group following the death of his father in 1992.
But, he was also involved in many other organizations in the community, the state and in the trucking industry. Mr. Moon served on several boards, including Russell Construction, Sinclair Tractor and Quad City Bank & Trust. He was the president of CAT Scale Company.
Also, the University of Iowa would remain a “touchpoint and passion for him throughout his life,” according to his obituary.
At the university, he supported many activities, including student scholarships and the University Children’s Hospital.
“(Mr. Moon’s) generosity touched nearly every corner of the University of Iowa. Alongside his wife, Renee, he endowed Iowa’s head football coaching position and made significant investments in Hawkeye student-athletes, UI Health Care, the Tippie College of Business, and other university initiatives. He was equally known for his kindness, unwavering support of the Hawkeyes, and the meaningful relationships he built across the university community,” according to a post on the University of Iowa Alumni Facebook page.
Mr. Moon also was a member of the Iowa YPO Gold, Davenport Quarterback Club past president, National Association of Truck Stop Operators, American Truck Historical Society and a leader of Boy Scouts of America-Illowa Council, now known as Scouting America.
“Will Moon’s passion for scouting began as a youth when he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and he spent the rest of his life ensuring those same opportunities were available to future generations. He was deeply involved in the Illowa Council, serving as a board member, council treasurer, and council president, providing thoughtful leadership and unwavering support for scouting’s mission,” Ray Brauer, Illowa Council’s CEO and scout executive, told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal on Monday, July 20.
Mr. Brauer added: “Will believed in helping young people develop character, confidence, and a sense of responsibility, and he led by example every day. The impact he made on scouting in our region will be felt for many years to come, and we are profoundly grateful for his friendship, service, and leadership.”
Mr. Moon is survived by his wife, Renee Breckenridge Moon; children Billy (Kaitlyn) Moon, Bettendorf; Benjamin (Elizabeth) Moon, Bettendorf; Sarah (Connor) Daine, Afton, Minnesota; Miriam (Jeremy) Lemke, Davenport, Sarah (Adam) Redlinger, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; grandchildren Bella Lemke and Cora Daine; sisters Delia (David) Moon Meier and Carolyn (Richard Seehuus) Moon; and nieces Nell Meier, Lee Meier, Lana (Nick Timm) Meier, Alexandra Seehuus, and Abby Seehuus. He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Carolyn Moon.
