Carl’s Bakery , with its large colorful statue of a rooster in a top hat , has been an East Peoria landmark since the restaurant opened seven decades ago.
And for 23 years, Dave Armstrong was a fixture in that local landmark as its full-time baker.
“He married into it,” said his wife, Carla Armstrong. “My dad (Carl Weber) started this business 67 years ago. When we got married 52 years ago, my dad asked him to help fry doughnuts. He started helping my dad and when my dad died 23 years ago, he did all the baking.”
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Armstrong died on Aug. 18 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, unselfishness and a duty to serve others. For much of his career at Carl’s, Armstrong also worked for the city of East Peoria as a foreman in the Public Works Department. His daughter, Joy Clauson, said his dual role as baker and city employee led to many early mornings and long days.
“He would get up about 3 a.m., bake for three hours and then head to work his full-time job,” Clauson said. “After retiring, he stepped in as a full-time baker and really excelled at his job. He baked cakes and would free hand about anything on them. He made some original pastries that became favorites and still are sold to this day.”
In what leisure time his busy schedule allowed, Armstrong enjoyed outdoor activities. He particularly liked horticulture, landscaping, fishing and building ponds. He also loved dogs, and Clauson recalled when she was growing up, the family often had two or three dogs at a time.
“When he was young, his family raised Pekinese pups,” Carla said. “And he was always building fishponds, or gardening. He loved that kind of stuff, and he really liked the outdoors.”
Armstrong seems to have been nearly as much a fixture at the East Peoria Festival of Lights as he was at Carl’s Bakery. According to Clauson, he was involved with the parade’s planning and execution since the first event in 1984.
“He would spend the day of the parade covering lights and the evening of the parade driving floats,” she said. “He also was part of the planning and setup of the Folepi's Winter Wonderland and spent countless hours arranging and testing lights to make sure the drive through was a great experience for the community and guests.
"He took great pride in his work.”
Armstrong, a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, was buried Aug. 26 in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield.
In addition to Carla and Joy Clauson of Morton, he is survived by four grandchildren, Samantha Tabor, Rachel Clauson, Ryan Clauson, and Jack Clauson; his twin brother, Donald Armstrong of Pekin; his sister, Jacqueline Kipper of Collins, Missouri; his son-in-law, Douglas Tabor of Peoria Heights and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Sarah Louise Tabor; grandson Jacob Clauson; and brothers, Roland Armstrong, Robert Armstrong, and Jerry Armstrong.
“My dad was a man who always had a smile, lived to serve others, and was satisfied with the simple things in life,” Clauson said. “He lived very unselfishly and was gifted in so many areas, but always used his talents to help others.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Baker for iconic East Peoria shop remembered for kind smile, unmatched work ethic
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