Jean M. Hesseling, age 77, of Dubuque, passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  To celebrate Jean’s life, family and friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., on Monday, September 22, 2025, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street.  Funeral services will be held on Monday at 12:00 noon at the funeral home, with Martin Hesseling officiating.  Entombment will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

Jean was born on July 5, 1948, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Waldschmidt) Fecker.

Jean married Richard “Dick” Hesseling on August 27, 1966, at the Church of the Nativity.  They celebrated 56 years together before he sadly preceded her in death on December 12, 2022.  Jean was a devoted wife and mom who also worked as a nurses aide with the Sisters of the Presentation, the Sisters of the Visitation, the Sisters at Mt. Carmel, Luther Manor, Manorcare, and lastly with Trustwell Living at Eagle Pointe Place.  Jean always said working with the Sisters was more like going home than to work, and she really enjoyed her co-workers.  Her faith was important to her, and she was a long time member of Nativity Church.  In her free time, Jean liked making latch hook rugs and going target shooting with Dick and the family.  She made time for watching TV crime shows, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, Let’s Make a Deal and Westerns.  She loved spending time with the family and especially enjoyed watching and playing with the grandchildren.  Jean was a caring person who always put the needs of others first.  She will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish Jean’s memory include

her children,
Cindy (Kevin) Kruse, Dubuque, IA,
Richard (Carolyn) Hesseling Jr., Dubuque, IA,
Donald (Betty) Hesseling, Waterloo, IA
and Martin (Sarah) Hesseling, Davenport, IA;

11 grandchildren;

14 great-grandchildren;

her bonus “sons”,
Dr. Douglas Isaacson, Dubuque, IA
and Michael Stratford, Davenport, IA;

and her sister-in-law,
Barb Fecker, Dubuque, IA.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Hesseling Sr.; a grandson, Brandon; a sister, Pat (Jim) Weiner; and a brother, Joseph Fecker.

Jean’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff of the Palliative Care Unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for keeping Jean comfortable.

Cards and memorials in Jean’s memory may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Jean Hesseling Family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.behrfuneralhome.com