Jill Arlene (Duttweiler) Blackwood passed away February 3, 2019 at home in Fort Myers, Florida surrounded by her family after a 3 year battle with breast cancer. Born August 31, 1947 in Burlington, Iowa, she was the daughter of Warren E. and Billie P. (Armson) Duttweiler. On August 25, 1968, she married Thomas W. Blackwood in Burlington.
Jill was a 1965 graduate of Burlington High School. She attended Burlington Junior College where she earned her AA degree in 1967 and then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science at the University of Iowa in 1970. During her career she was a teacher in the Burlington and Mediapolis, Iowa school districts as well as the Herlong, California district.
She coached several sports in the area schools including the Burlington High School 1980 Iowa Girls Golf state championship team. She later went on to work at Sterzing’s alongside Tom. When they retired together in 2011 she was CFO.
Jill’s passion in life was for her family, golf and her community. She was involved with almost every activity her daughters were interested in throughout their school years and she and Tom never missed a sporting event or activity including earning her private pilot’s license in order to fly to Amy’s college volleyball games and golf meets. Jill’s golf accolades and involvement are extensive and include 2019 inductee to the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame, 2014 recipient of the George Turner Distinguished Service Award, over 30 years of volunteering with the Burlington Golf Club junior golf program, President of the Iowa Women’s Golf Association, volunteer director of the annual Wife-Husband Tournament for 13 years, the Iowa Women’s Amateur for 8 years, and the Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur for 4 years.
Prior to being an accomplished golfer, Jill was an excellent tennis player including playing for the University of Iowa as the #1 singles and #1 doubles player. She was a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of the USA, was a Girl Scout troop leader from 1981 – 1992 and served on the Shining Trail Council of Girl Scouts board of directors from 1988 – 1994 in many roles including President. She served GSUSA as a National Operational Volunteer for many years traveling throughout the country training other volunteers and board of directors.
Jill was awarded the first Women of Distinction award by the council in 2001 after receiving the Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II. Jill volunteered for and was a member of many organizations including the Burlington Area United Way, Burlington YMCA, Jennie Coulter Corporation, Burlington Athletic Booster Club, University of Iowa Hawkeye Women’s Advisory Council and the Norman Circle of Kings Daughters. Camp Lookout in Montrose Iowa was also a very special place.
Survivors include her husband Tom Blackwood of Ft. Myers, Florida, two daughters Julie (Matthew) Totten of Keokuk, Iowa and Amy (Kevin) Smith of Holland, Michigan, four grandchildren, Kingston Smith, Ethan Totten, Avery Totten and Abigail Smith; her sister Judy (John) Arledge of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, her mother-in-law Ruthe Blackwood of Burlington, Iowa, her sister-in-law Judy Toy of Hiawatha, Iowa and nephew David Toy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jill was preceded in death by her parents, her father-in-law Bill Blackwood, brother-in-law Kenneth Toy and son-in-law Andrew McDonough The visitation for Mrs. Blackwood will be noon until 7:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Tuesday, February 12. 2019 at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home. The memorial service for Mrs. Blackwood will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home with Pastor Susanne Smith officiating.
There will be a time of food and fellowship at the Burlington Golf Club following the service. Burial will be in Aspen Grove at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with: Play for P.I.N.K; Iowa Golf Association Ann Griffel Scholarship Memorial – Jill Blackwood Memorial Fund; and Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Attn: Joyce Vance, West Burlington Iowa.
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