Joseph Peter Burns, 67, of Dubuque, IA, formerly of Basking Ridge, NJ, passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at home following a prolonged illness, with his family by his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 31, 2019 at St. Mary’s Church in East Dubuque, with Fr. Peter Snieg officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Key West, with military honors accorded by members of the Dubuque Marine Corps League.

Visitation is from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. on Saturday at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque, where the parish rosary will be recited at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Joe was born on July 22, 1952 in Phillipsburg, NJ, the son of Joseph P. and Elinor Mae (Wolfe) Burns.  He was a graduate of Gill St. Bernard’s Prep School, Gladstone, NJ, and Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. Joe was a member of the Army Reserves Special Forces Airborne.

He was united in marriage to Maria Droessler, formerly of Kieler, WI, on November 18, 1989 at St. Patrick’s Church in Dubuque. Joe was employed at Hormel Foods in Dubuque, and was a member of St. Mary’s Parish in East Dubuque.

Surviving is his wife Maria; their daughter, Fiona Burns, of Dubuque, IA; his siblings, Timothy (Diane) Burns of Royal Palm Beach, FL, Susan (Todd) Craig of Houston, TX, and Brigid (Ron) Rizzo of Long Valley, NJ; his in-laws, William (Sharon) Droessler of McFarland, WI, Sally Jo (Randal) Halford of Georgetown, TX, Terrence (Sue) Droessler of Columbus, WI, and twelve nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Joe’s family wishes to thank the staff at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center in Madison, and Hospice of Dubuque, for the wonderful care given to Joe, their beloved husband and father.

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