John DeDoncker is a world-class praise deflector.
He is also caring, forthright and a longtime community beacon, who has personally and professionally made instrumental commitments to a bevy of communities and entities across Iowa and Illinois.
Stand-up-comedian-funny, DeDoncker, 61 and an East Moline, Illinois, native, is also the proud bearer of a driver’s license from all five of the four Quad Cities.
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who can boast such a feat, yet you aren’t surprised it’s part of the retired TBK Bank President’s (Midwest Division) resume. First-rate on all fronts, DeDoncker – by depth of family, career, and a life of give-back good deeds – has never settled for average.
“I can even prove that one (the living in five of the four Quad Cities),’’ said the DeDoncker, who after a stellar career as an attorney and a decorated, quarter-century in banking, continues to give of his time and effort to support a number of projects that benefit the overall well-being of the community he grew up in.
Note: Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa, are the original four towns that comprise the Quad Cities. Bettendorf, Iowa has since worked its way into the conversation, making it five cities that border Iowa and Illinois and the Mississippi River and call themselves the Quad Cities.
Confusing?
To some, but not a great Quad-Citian like DeDoncker, who in retirement serves as Market Ambassador for TBK Bank. Since 2002, DeDoncker has been a driving force in The National Bank, Triumph Bank, and TBK Bank being the presenting sponsor of the Quad Cities Marathon.
Since 2007, Rock Valley Physical Therapy has been the proud sponsor of the marathon’s five-person relay and is again on board for 2025. For three-plus decades, Rock Valley Physical Therapy cornerstone Greg Blaske, PT, FAAOMPT, has been a friend and a compassionate, dedicated and trusted physical therapist treating DeDoncker.
When an issue arises – and there have been plenty across his three decades of pounding the pavement, golfing, biking, and trail running – DeDoncker calls on Blaske and Rock Valley.
“It (running a marathon) was a bucket list item and with our sponsorship we were given three (marathon) entries,’’ DeDoncker said. “And so, I have run every (TBK Bank) Quad-Cities Marathon since 2002. And having someone you trust, someone there who knows exactly what is needed like Greg, has been tremendous for me. If something happens, I know there is help.’’
In its 28 years, Joe Moreno is the only race director the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon has known. As a top-notch people person, Moreno places tremendous value on individuals and entities who make important community events come to life. With respect to countless others, DeDoncker might be the marathon’s biggest supporter.
“John DeDoncker’s understanding of community is the reason the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon is where it is today,’’ said Moreno. “His vision, and Rock Valley’s vision are why we have a such great event. John is a runner, impressive on so many fronts, but he has always been there for his community. What a great ambassador and a great spokesperson. You cannot imagine what his support has done to build our marathon into a tremendous event known across the country.’’
As a runner, DeDoncker has the dedication, stamina, drive, and intestinal fortitude to continue to race at a level of someone half his age. He is both decorated and highly respected.
In addition to his many years of completing the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon, DeDoncker has run 30 marathons across the country, including Boston, Las Vegas, St. Louis, and Chicago, respectively.
The 2025 TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon will be his 24th, working times as low as 3 hours and 7 minutes. Recently, DeDoncker was featured on the ultra-popular, nationally recognized “Taking Chances’’ podcast.
Yet, as amazing as his running career has been, DeDoncker did not set out to be an elite ultra-marathoner or run marathons in his 60s in less than 3 ½ hours.
“And I didn’t start out to be a banker,’’ said DeDoncker, who graduated from the University of Iowa (Tippie College of Business) and earned his Juris Doctorate from Iowa College of Law in 1988. “But I did get into banking, which led to running. We were at banking school at the University of Wisconsin (Madison) with too much time on our hands and an expense account. We decided we should do something (exercise related) so we met an hour before class and ran around the lake (on campus). That was 2001 and that’s where this all started. It was never intentional.’’
Along the way, throughout his stellar running career, DeDoncker’s body has taken a beating. Back issues (caused by a pre-Leadville bike fall) and thousands of miles on pavement, led to a discectomy, while shoulder problems led to rotator cuff, labral and microfracture surgery.
Through every step, Blaske and Rock Valley have been there.
“We literally started from “drop your arm and rotate’’ and “walking fingers up the wall’’ with the shoulder,’’ DeDoncker said of Blaske’s rehabilitation prowess. “With all my troubles, Greg has always had a plan for me to get back to what I love, including running and playing golf. It has always been goal oriented. He is a friend who I trust, who I know will always do the right thing, be honest with me and give all he has to help me to get better. I will always trust Greg.’’
For Blaske, it’s a longtime friend putting his faith in him and Rock Valley Physical Therapy.
“He is such a great guy; great personality which has made him a great leader,’’ Blaske said of DeDoncker. “I’m not surprised he was picked to lead the bank through many of its changes that ended up as TBK. John is a great community leader and not only talks the talk, but he is a great giver. John and I are also members of Bettendorf Rotary, but his giving goes beyond just Rotary. He is a strong believer in giving back to this great community and promotes this through his actions and money/contributions. He is a great community man, grew up in the Illinois Quad Cities and opted to stay in the area for his professional life. He is a great man who has done so much more than he gets credit for. He never asks for attention for what he does.’’
Blaske recalls a story Rock Valley cornerstone Todd Kersten, PT, OCS, shared regarding DeDoncker making sure others appreciate the impact Rock Valley Physical Therapy has on the communities it serves.
“Todd said when given the chance to talk about himself and his banks at a Q-C marathon event, he praised Rock Valley and all the good we have done for this community,’’ Blaske shared. “Typical John, give credit to others. He is an amazing community asset.’’
John DeDoncker, Rock Valley Physical Therapy, and the TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon.
A trio of amazing community assets.
Since 2007, Rock Valley Physical Therapy has proudly served as the presenting sponsor of the Quad Cities Marathon Relay, Sept. 28, 2025. Click below to register for this years event: https://www.qcmarathon.org/
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller