Lowell Diveley

Lowell R. Jocko Diveley, a long time local businessman and chairman of Diveley Development Corporation died peacefully at his home in Danville on April 13th, 2010 from complications of Alzheimers disease. He was 89. Diveley opened his first area business, Jockos Root Beer, on the Georgetown Road in 1949. In 1956, he added a Putt-Putt Golf Course next to the drive-in, but the construction of Interstate 74 forced both businesses to close in 1961. Diveley then went on to establish additional Putt-Putt Golf Course in Indianapolis, Denver, Champaign, and Philadelphia. In 1967, he opened Lees Famous Recipe Fried Chicken at the corner of Williams and Gilbert and five years later, Jockos Pizza Inn was launched next door. He served on the Board of Directors of all three of three national franchises, received numerous awards, was inducted into the Putt-Putt Courses of America Hall of Fame in 1992, the Lees Famous Recipe Hall of Fame in 1995, and was honored as Boss of the Year by the Danville Jaycees in the 1970s. He was born in 1920 in Dry Grove near Bloomington, Illinois, to Bertram Simon and Bessie Miller Diveley. Upon completing his education he took a position with the Illinois Bell Telephone Company. Enlisting in the army in 1942, he served as a non-commissioned officer in the European Theater in World War II in the 932nd Signal Battalion, XIX Tactical Air Command, eventually attaining the rank of staff sergeant. His unit, which supplied communications support to General George Pattons Third Army, participated in the D-Day invasion and went on to take part in campaigns in Northern France, Alsace, the Ardennes, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Diveley was particularly haunted by the experience of entering Buchenwald Concentration Camp after its liberation by Pattons troops. In 1945, he returned to civilian life and wed his long-time sweetheart, Shirley Eustice of Galena, IL. Married for 64 years, the couple had three children. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his daughters, Sandra Batmangelich (John E. Woods) of Oak Park, IL, and Vicki Diveley of McCoy, CO; and his son Steve Diveley (Lee Ann Allen) of Danville. He is also survived by a brother Royale Diveley of Normal, IL and four grandchildren: Ramsey Batmangelich of Arlington, VA; Lauren Diveley of Ft. Collins, CO; Heather Diveley, and Natalie Diveley, both of Danville. The result of a lifelong interest in aviation, Diveley served as Vermilion Country Airport Authority commissioner from 1988 to 2006. He was a charter member of the Danville Economic Development Corporation and was a director on the board of the Danville Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Danville Country Club and the Danville Boat Club. In addition to his involvement in business and civic affairs, his interest included family, conservation, nature, and travel. He especially enjoyed hiking in Kennekuk Cove County Park. A Celebration of Lowells Life will be held at 10:30 am, Monday, April 19, 2010 at Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N. Vermilion St. Danville, IL. Visitation will be held from 3-7 pm Sunday afternoon at the funeral home. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Danville Public School Foundation 516 N. Jackson St. Danville, IL 61832 or Kennekuk Cove County Park 22296-A Henning RD Danville, IL 61834. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com Special thanks to the remarkable group of Care Givers who helped make his final months much more comfortable than they otherwise would have been. VA Home Based Primary Care and Carle Hospice.