The founder of a chain of restaurants, and generous community supporter, has died. "Happy Joe" Whitty died Tuesday at the age of 82, at the Clarissa Cook Hospice, in Bettendorf.
He opened the first Happy Joe's pizza and ice cream restaurant in the Village of East Davenport in 1972. There are now 45 locations in six states - Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Soon after opening, Whitty began a tradition that continues to this day, holding a Christmas party for special needs children. It started in his first restaurant but since has grown to two days for more than 1,000 kids, and is held at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
