Mary A. Bleile, age 87, of Dubuque, passed away, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Stonehill Health Center.  To celebrate Mary’s life, family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street.  There will be a prayer service held at 7:00 p.m.  Private family burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Mary was born on June 9, 1938, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Donald and Irma (Burbach) Dean.

She graduated from Cuba City High School, Class of 1956.  After school, she went to work at the Dubuque Packing Company before going to work at Flexsteel until her well earned retirement.  She married Elmer Bleile on October 9, 1956, in Kieler, Wisconsin at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  They shared 58 wonderful years together before Elmer passed away on November 9, 2014.  Mary was a long time member of Holy Ghost Church in Dubuque.  She occasionally tried her luck at the casino, was a regular Bingo attendee and enjoyed playing cards.  Mary loved camping and  traveling, marking off all 50 states on her map as they went.  Her family and friends were her world.  She loved family visits and spending time with the kids and all of the grandchildren.  Mary was a wonderful woman and she will be greatly missed.

Those left to cherish Mary’s memory include

her son,
Randy (Karla) Bleile, Dubuque, IA;

5 grandchildren,
Kelli (Bryan Bertling) Post, Dubuque, IA,
Holli (Tyler) Bradley, Dyersville, IA,
Rachael (Jacob) Tharp, Cascade, IA
and Melissa (Mike) Medler, Lanark, IL:

12 great-grandchildren,
Meggan, Ethan, MaKenna, Emily, Erica, Jackson, Julia, Rhett, Mason, Josie, Jacob and Kensley;

a great great-granddaughter,
Harper;

a sister-in-law,
Barb Dean, Platteville, WI;

and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer Bleile; a son, Daniel Bleile; a daughter, Lori Faust; a grandson, Kyle Faust; a sister, Donna Bobo; and 3 brothers, Dalven Dean, Leonard Dean and Dorrance (Sherry) Dean.

Mary’s family would like to thank Dr. Kirkendall, his nurse Kate, and the nurses and staff of Stonehill and Hospice of Dubuque for their outstanding care.

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

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