Eileen Mary (Oberbroeckling) Donovan, 94, died peacefully on July 3, 2026, at Mercy One Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa with family by her side.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Dubuque, with Fr. Brian Delleart officiating. Burial will be at St. Boniface Cemetery, New Vienna, Iowa. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd, Dubuque, Iowa, with a parish wake service to be held at 3:45.

Eileen was born in New Vienna, Iowa, the daughter of John and Emaline (Gerken) Oberbroeckling. Eileen graduated from St. Boniface High School, in 1950. She was married in 1954 to Robert Donovan.  Together they had 8 children. When her children were all in school, Eileen returned to the workforce in customer service roles, initially at Robert’s Catering, followed by Walmart for a combined total of over 35 years.  Her dedication to her family and a strong work ethic were just two of Eileen’s many strengths.

Eileen lived a life deeply rooted in faith, spirituality, and love for others. Her relationship with God was a guiding force and source of strength throughout life. Faith was woven into her daily routines and treasured traditions, including the daily prayer of the rosary, which brought her peace, comfort, and devotion.

Beyond faith, Eileen found joy in many of life’s simple pleasures and meaningful connections. A devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs, she faithfully cheered on her team through every season with hope and enthusiasm. One of her great joys was seeing the Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 2016. She enjoyed gathering around a card table for a spirited game of euchre, tending to gardens with care and pride, and traveling to explore new places and create lasting memories.

Perhaps most of all, Eileen had a remarkable gift for building relationships and making friends wherever life led. Her warm spirit, genuine kindness, and ability to make others feel welcomed left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She treasured time spent with family and friends and believed that life’s greatest blessings were found in the connections shared with others.

Eileen’s legacy of faith, friendship, compassion, and love will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Eileen is survived by her brother Jim Oberbroeckling, and 7 of her children, Dianne (David) O’Meara, Arvada, CO, David (Kimberly), Cape Coral, FL, Donna, Scottsdale, AZ, Dawn (Todd) Caven, Maple Grove, MN, Denise (Mark) Bartlett, Tucson, AZ, Darci (Craig) DeCamp, West Lafayette, IN, and Doug, Waukesha, WI; and grandchildren, Meghan Donovan, Molly and Charlie Caven, Jake DeCamp, and Sophia (Sam) Olson; and great-grandchildren Wyatt and Margaret Olson; sister-in-law, Judy  Oberbroeckling, Rita (Tom) Kurt and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Debbie, her parents, siblings Jack Oberbroeckling and Dan Oberbroeckling; her sisters-in-law Iva (Jack) Oberbroeckling, Alice (Jim) Oberbroeckling; brother-in-law, Roger Donovan; brothers-in-law and sisters-in law, Jack and Jeanette Fondell, Doris and Kenny Wiederholdt.

In memory of Eileen, donations may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Dubuque.

The family wishes to thank The Rose of Dubuque, Hawkeye Care Center, and Mercy One Medical Center for their excellent care of Eileen.