David C Wright

David C. Wright, 88, of Freeport, IL, passed away Saturday night, October 1, 2016, at Freeport Hospital after a courageous battle with pneumonia. David, also known as "Cork", was born on August 17, 1928, in Oregon Township, IL, to Carroll and Belle (Lewis) Wright. On November 12, 1949, in Mt. Morris, IL, he married his high school sweetheart from just two doors down, Barbara Jean Payne, whom he still referred to as his lovely bride after almost 67 years of marriage. After graduating from Mt. Morris High School, David entered a printing apprenticeship at Kable Printing, Mt. Morris, IL, where over the course of 26 years he was promoted from the composing room to customer service and eventually sales. In the mid seventies, with Barb by his side, he published "Sales Managers Mail Market" and "Pilot/Owner" card mailers from his home. In 1977, he accepted a position in Yankton, SD, at Gurney Seed and Nursery as Vice President, Catalog Production. Ten years later, David moved his love of printing and publishing to Swiss Colony in Monroe, WI, where he was Executive Director of Catalog Advertising and Production. In retirement, he enjoyed spending hours in his workshop building birdhouses and painting signs for everyone he knew. David was a member of the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow and later served as an assistant scout master. He enjoyed memberships with the Rock River Craftsman, Lions Club, Elks Club, Loyal Order of the Moose, Masonic Lodge, Methodist Church and VFW. He served in the United States Army Signal Corps on Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands during the Korean War. David is survived and deeply missed by his wife, Barbara, and daughters, Charlene (Steve) Bonnen of Byron, IL, and Sherry (Jack) Pattison of Bondurant, IA, as well as grandchildren, Samuel Pattison of Des Moines, IA, Mary (Kyle) Marek-Spartz of St. Paul, MN, and Lukas Bonnen of Dekalb, IL. He is preceded in death by his sister, Martha and brothers, Robert and Bruce. A Celebration of Life will be held at Parkview Home, 1711 W. Church Street, Freeport, IL, on Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 2-5pm. Memorials may be directed to Parkview Home @ www.parkviewhome.org or a charity of your preference.