Debra “Daisy” Callahan, 67, of Dubuque, passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2023, after a long battle with COPD.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 23, at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Rd., Dubuque, where there will be a funeral service held at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Deacon John Stierman will officiate. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Placid.

Debbie was born January 2, 1956 in Dubuque, the daughter of Lester and Lillian (McDermott) Callahan. She attended Cathedral School (when she wasn’t sneaking out!) and went on to raise two daughters, Laurie and Carrie “Kurt”. Along with her best friend, Jean Kapp, she owned and operated D & J’s Cleaning Service  for 30 years, until retirement.

Debbie had many hobbies, including boating, roller skating, and singing karaoke. She loved going to the Dubuque Farmer’s Market, and hitting the casinos with her siblings. Debbie enjoyed boot scooting, even taught a few classes, which brought her a wonderful group of friends, especially at the Crazy Horse and Instant Replay. Her very favorite thing was to spend time with her grandchildren, and face-time her great granddaughter.

Those left to cherish her memory include her two daughters, Laurie (Jeff Somers) Callahan, and Carrie (Jon) Welu; her grandchildren, Chandler Huber, Alexis (fiancé Will Kieler) Huber, Payton, Katelyn, and Lillian Welu, and Samantha and Evelyn Callahan; her great granddaughter, Rosalie “Boo” Kieler; three sisters, Elaine Gansen, Juanita Bakey, and Becky (Terry) Lyons; and her sister in law, Barb Callahan.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Jenny; her soul mate, Alvin Wernimont; her parents, Lester and Lillian Callahan; her siblings, Daniel “Buck” Callahan, Kay Reardon, and Donald “Jeep” Callahan; her in-laws, Jerry Bakey and Bill Gansen; her nephew, Bobby Lyons; and her great nephew, Sean Kenneally.

The family would like to thank Mark Janes, M.D., and Shay Lehman, ARNP, for their care of Debbie.