Davis, Lynn "LD" 1947 - 2023

DAVIS, KLEVE, OTTSEN, BASZTURA, CANNON, KING, KUO

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/18/2023 at 11:45:22

Formerly of Lime Springs - Friends and loved ones lost their beloved “bigger-than-life” Lynn “LD” Davis, of Edina, Minn., who passed away from inevitable complications of Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s.
Visitation will be at noon on March 14 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, with the funeral mass to follow at 1 p.m. Private burial will be at Lakewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Friends of the Boundary Waters friends-bwca.org. Washburn-McReavy. com, Edina Chapel.
Born in Lime Springs, Iowa on Feb. 20, 1947, Lynn grew up on a dairy farm near Cresco, Iowa, the son of Derrill and Dolores (Kleve) Davis. He loved detailing how he survived farming perils and helped his three younger sisters - Cheryl (Basztura), Constance and Marcia (Cannon- Davis) do the same.
Ever competitive and a wrestler throughout Cresco High School, graduating in 1964, he then graduated from Iowa State University in 1968 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and with the love of his life Sandra (Ottsen) Davis, whom he married that summer.
He worked at Honeywell while obtaining his MBA from the University of Minnesota, before he was lured away to join a then small firm, ADC Telecommunications. Lynn was a born leader, motivating to his team and consistently treating all employees with respect. In many of his years at ADC, he liked to point out, the division he led accounted for more than 100% of the company's profits. He touched all aspects of the business, after 26 years eventually retiring as President and Chief Operating Officer. Lynn said he “failed retir’ment" and that it took three tries before he finally got it right, trying his hand at private equity and then serving as President of August Technology before retiring for good.
He stayed engaged with business by mentoring young leaders and serving on the company Boards of Flexsteel, STI and Lion Precision. Over his career, he encouraged others to realize their potential and gave them the trust and space they needed to achieve it.
Those who knew him will miss his big presence, competitive spirt, contagious sense of humor, down-to-earth style and generosity. Lynn and Sandra loved the mountains, often skiing or hiking near their second home in Snowmass, Colo. Annual canoe camping trips to the Boundary Waters were central to their lives from newlywed times through parenting and grandparenting.
Lynn had a passion for athletics; he pitched slow-pitch softball from his teens through his 50s. He believed in the power and value of youth sports, both coaching and serving on the boards of the Edina Baseball and Basketball Associations. His photography hobby became a beautiful obsession which took him and Sandra on travels all over the world. From this he produced and shared annual nature photography calendars, while also creating a family calendar with photos that matched his pride and love for his six grandchildren.
His sons, Chris Davis (Margaret King), with children Owen, Tyler, Clara and Audrey, and and Justin Davis (Lynn Kuo), with children Terren and Koda (born on Lynn's birthday), remember fondly their Opa’s sense of humor, enthusiasm for life and deep love that he showered on them.
Above all, he loved his family, cheering on his kids, grandkids and his wife, whom he believed could do anything. They will miss his fierce competitive spirit whether in athletics, family games, card games or fishing. He was tough, strong, self- assured and confident, belying his big, soft heart and faith in God. He was a rock star and their rock.

Source: Cresco Times March 13, 2023