William J. “Bill” Tigges, 89, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2026. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, November 1, at the Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road where there will be a parish wake service at 4:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 2, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Ghost Church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery where military rites will be accorded.

Bill was born February 1, 1937, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of William and Dorothy (Kutsch) Tigges. He served in the Army National Guard of Iowa and as a Reserve of the United States Army. He married his lifelong love, Juanita Kass, on May 21, 1960, at St. Philomena Church. She preceded him in death on February 2, 2021.

Bill took great pride in his work at Barnstead Thermolyne in Dubuque, where he started in an entry-level position and worked his way up to head of manufacturing engineering. His career reflected the value he placed on hard work, commitment, and helping others succeed. Through his leadership and mentorship, he left a lasting impression on the company and the people who worked alongside him. He was also a Senior Member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Having a rare blood type, he was a dedicated blood donor who was often called upon to donate blood to someone in need. He never hesitated to answer those calls.

His family was at the epicenter of his life. A dedicated father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Bill’s influence is felt through the generations. Bill and Juanita loved to travel and especially enjoyed vacationing with family. He also enjoyed talking about classic cars, and anyone who got him started on the subject could expect the conversation to take the scenic route.

He is survived by his three children, Ronald (Jennifer) Tigges, Cathy Henkel, and Chuck Tigges, all of Dubuque; and Jean Wong, of Phoenix, Arizona, whom he also considered his daughter; grandchildren, Jason Henkel (Kristina Castaneda), Jennifer (Tyler) Raymond, Mitchel (Chris) Tigges, and Willie Tigges (Tim Krueger); five great-grandchildren, Eva, Via, Ridley, Ina and Boone; his sister, Pat Leonard and brother in law, Nick Kass (Al Pecina).

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard Tigges and his wife Judy; his sister, Eileen Tigges, and brother in law, Jim Leonard.

He was also preceded in death by Juanita’s siblings and their spouses, John (Jean), Sr. Elizabeth, Gert (Bud), Jimmy and Mary.

Bill’s life is celebrated in the family he loved, the people he mentored, and the lasting impact he made. His stories will keep him part of the conversation for generations to come.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Oak Park Place, where he resided the past couple of years, and the many friends that he developed there.