Obituaries Archive

Mary L. Schulte

Mary L. Schulte, age 75, of Dubuque, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 18, 2024, at her home.  To honor Mary’s life, family and friends may visit from 1:00 p.m. until 3:45 p.m., on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street.  Funeral services will be held immediately after visitation at 4:00 p.m., on Sunday at Behr’s with Rev. Steven M. Garner officiating.  Following cremation, burial will be in Linwood Cemetery at a later date.

Mary was born on April 17, 1948, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Art and Dorothy (Heisler) Phillips.

She graduated from St. Boniface High School in New Vienna.  After school Mary attended hospitality training in Waterloo and then went to work with Ertl for a time.  She was married to Robert J. Schulte on November 29, 1969, at St. Boniface Church.  After they married Mary and Bob owned and operated RJ’s Septic Service and Excavating until Bob passed away on November 16, 1984.  Mary was never afraid of hard work, and after Bob’s passing she held 5 jobs at the same time.  She was employed at the Regal 8 Motel, The Big 10 Mart, Merry Maids, Suzanne’s Tanning and she bartended at Antonio’s.  Eventually Mary went to work at DuTrac Community Credit Union, retiring on August 20, 2020, after 39 years of service.  Mary’s faith was very important to her, helping her to weather the storms that life sent her way.  She was proud to be a long time member of Holy Ghost Church.  Mary loved her family and getting together with everyone.  Cooking for them was a favorite activity.  She was an excellent cook who started with a recipe, but always added her own special touches to make it even better.  She loved the water and whenever she could work a boat ride into her day she was thrilled.  Mary also enjoyed vacationing with her family.  Our hearts are deeply saddened at losing her so suddenly and unexpectedly.  Mary was an extraordinary woman, always wanting to help others and made the world a better place for all that knew her.  She was dearly loved and will be missed every day.

Those left to cherish Mary’s memory include

her daughter,
Paula Schulte, Dubuque, IA;

her siblings,
Larry (Jan) Phillips, Peosta, IA,
Janet Phillips, Dubuque, IA,
Loras Phillips, Dyersville, IA
and Diann (Dan) Michels, Cedar Rapids, IA;

her sister-in-law,
Susan Schulte, Earlville, IA;

and several nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert J. Schulte; her daughter, Sandy Schulte; a granddaughter, Taylor Marie Schulte; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Francis Schulte; her sister-in-law, Melanie Phillips; and a brother-in-law, Ron Schulte.

Mary’s family would like to thank the 1st responders from the Dubuque Police and Fire Departments for their kindness and compassion during this difficult time.  Also a special thanks to Dr. Kahn, Dr. Whalen and their nurses and staff for all of the care they have provided for Mary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Mary’s honor which will be distributed in support of her favorite charities.  Cards may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Mary Schulte Family.

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

Debra A. Ruh

Debra A. “Debbie” Ruh, age 64, (technically “Sweet 16″) of Dubuque, passed away peacefully at 5:31 p.m., on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Stonehill Heath Center after a short battle with cancer.  To honor Debbie’s life, family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish scripture service held at 3:45 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Ghost Church, 2921 Central Avenue, with Rev. Jeff Frieden officiating.  Entombment will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

Debbie was born on Leap Day, February 29, 1960, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of Donald and Lorraine (Witt) Heming Sr.

She attended Holy Ghost Grade School and graduated from Hempstead High School in Dubuque.  She married the love of her life, Edward J. “Ed” Ruh, on May 28, 1983, at Holy Ghost Church.  The couple had a wonderful life together and completed their family when they adopted their son Joe in 1989.  Sadly Ed passed away on February 2, 2020, shortly before their 37th wedding anniversary.  She was a long time member of Holy Ghost Church in Dubuque.  Debbie was an extremely devoted wife and mom who loved to work.  She worked in the Environmental Services Department at Stonehill Franciscan Services, retiring after 11 years and also at Taco John’s for many years.  Her family was her greatest joy and Debbie especially looked forward to seeing the grandchildren any chance she could.  She loved spending time at the house in North Buena Vista fishing and just enjoying nature.  She was a fan of watching NCIS, Fire Country and all the Chicago shows on TV, and rooting on the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs.  She also enjoyed quiet time doing word search puzzles.  Everyone who knew her knew that Debbie loved her ice cream treats and chocolate milk.  Debbie was a wonderful woman who made the world around her a better place.  We will miss her tremendously.

Those left to cherish Debbie’s memory include

her son,
Joe Ruh;

3 grandchildren,
Penelope (10), Olive (7), Holden (3) Ruh;

a brother,
Don (Lynne Lippert) Heming, Dubuque, IA;

her in-laws,
John (Phyllis) Ruh, Marion, IA
and Francine “Fran” Fagan, Dubuque, IA;

and many nieces and nephews.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed Ruh; 5 sisters, Pat (Don) Freiburger, Kay (Pete) Splinter, Dot (Bob) Hentges, Judy (Tom) Hanson and Sandy Heming; a brother-in-law, Aaron Fagan; and a sister-in-law, Marie Ruh.

Debbie’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Stonehill and Hospice of Dubuque for their kind and compassionate care of Debbie these past weeks.

The family will thankfully receive your support through greeting cards and memorials in Debbie’s memory which may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Debbie Ruh Family.

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

Daniel A. Wulfekuhle

Daniel A. Wulfekuhle, 61, of Delhi, Iowa passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics surrounded by his loved ones.

Visitation will be held from 3 – 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Delhi, Iowa.  Visitation will continue at St. John’s Catholic Church, from 9 – 10:15 a.m. prior to funeral mass.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Delhi, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Gabriel Anderson will officiate.

Dan was born on January 21, 1963 in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Lester and Elaine (Roling) Wulfekuhle.  He married Jane Pasker on May 16, 1987, in Manchester, Iowa. Together they began dairy farming in Colesburg, Iowa, before moving to Delhi in 1991.

Dan’s life was family and farming. He loved his grandchildren and their fourwheeler rides. He always made time for his daily snack of a Three Muskateers and Diet Pepsi with the dogs. He and Jane enjoyed a yearly vacation with their group of friends and family. He had a keen sense of humor and always enjoyed a good laugh. He also enjoyed a good card game during the winter months.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Jane; four children: Ryan (Tiffany) Wulfekuhle, Brett (Kelby) Wulfekuhle, Melissa (Michael) Relph, Megan Wulfekuhle; six grandchildren: Jayda, Elsie, Hallee Wulfekuhle, Emerson, Avery Wulfekuhle, Callum Relph; mother, Elaine Wulfekuhle; siblings: Rick (Deanne) Wulfekuhle, Marj (Steve) Albright, Ron (Arlene) Wulfekuhle, Sheri (Brian) Hastings, Russ (Jen) Wulfekuhle, Scott (Tina) Wulfekuhle, Kara (Ed) Dunham, Marty (Rita) Wulfekuhle, Tami (Michael) Klimpel; in-laws: Charlie (Nicole) Pasker, Fred (Deb) Pasker, Joyce (Gaylen) Brady, Don (Julie) Pasker; and many nieces and nephews.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, Lester; sister, Lori and five siblings in infancy; parents-in-law, Alphonse and Mae Pasker.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA  52040.

Eric J. Burkholder

Eric J. Burkholder, age 51, of Dubuque, IA, completed his earthly journey on  March 17, 2024, at home while surrounded by his loving family and friends.  To honor Eric’s life, a private family service is being held.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Eric’s family.

Eric was born on September 16, 1972, in Cuba City, WI, a son to Clifford William Burkholder and Debra Jean Ludwig.  He kept life simple and enjoyed each moment as it came throughout his 51 years.  Eric was a faithful and loyal Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packer’s fan.  Whenever his teams took the field, Eric always enjoyed watching them and cheering them on to victory.  He also enjoyed spending time in the kitchen working on his next delicious meal.  Eric found great satisfaction in feeding those around him whenever possible and keeping everyone happy with full bellies at the end of the day.  But, all in all, Eric truly treasured the time he was able to sit and visit with his family and friends.  Conversations could go in any direction at any point, and Eric was always content to be in the mix when the opportunities arose.  We are going to miss Eric more than words could accurately depict.  His kind and gentle nature will definitely be missed by all who knew and loved him.  Thank you, Eric, for all of the positive influence and wonderful memories you leave behind and may the Lord keep you safe in His loving arms until we all meet again.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Eric include,

his children,
Perry Burkholder,
Ethan Burkholder,
and Kelsey Galazin, all of Dubuque, IA;

his friend and partner of 11 years,
Rachel Myers, Dubuque, IA;

his father,
Clifford W. Burkholder, Cedar Rapids, IA;

his brother,
Mark (Kristy) Burkholder, Surprise, AZ;

along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Eric was preceded in death by his mother, Debra Jean Ludwig; his grandson, Mateo Burkholder; his maternal grandparents, Richard (Marie) Ludwig; and his paternal grandparents, James (Shirley) Burkholder.

Eric’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Hospice of Dubuque for all of their professional and compassionate care.  We would also like to share a sincere expression of gratitude to all of Eric’s friends, especially Patty Johnson, who gave so much of their time and efforts to make Eric’s last days among us as comfortable as possible.  We will miss Eric dearly and are forever grateful for everyone who left a positive imprint on his life while we could.

Online condolences may be shared with Eric’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com

Emil B. Otting, Jr

Emil B. Otting Jr., age 74, of Dubuque, passed away at 12:55 a.m., on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at home with his loving family by his side. In keeping with Emil’s wishes, burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with full military honors accorded by the American Legion Post 6 at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street is assisting his family.

Emil was born on February 8, 1950, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Emil Bernard and Anna Mae (Chapman) Otting Sr.

Emil lived in Dubuque his entire life where he attended Holy Ghost Grade School. After school, Emil proudly served his country in the U.S. Army on active duty for 2 years during the Vietnam War, and with the Army Reserves for another 20 years. He married Ruby Ward on August 2, 1969, at St. Mary’s Church. They built a wonderful life together and were blessed with 4 children and several grandchildren. Sadly, Ruby preceded Emil in death on October 5, 2018. Emil devoted his working career to Georgia Pacific, happily retiring after 47 years. He was a long time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubuque where he volunteered helping with Bingo and cleaning the school. Emil loved his family and playing with the grandkids was one of his favorite activities. He was very loved and will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Those left to cherish Emil’s memory include: his daughters, Kathy (Tim Loeffelholz) Reuter, Billie Jo Pospisil and Elizabeth (Shane) Vargas; his grandchildren, Nicolette (Robbie) Lange, Stephanie (Andrew) Maas, Brent Otting, Bristol Reuter, Stacie Jo Otting, Sydnie (Jerrell) Wardell, Emilie Pospisil and Timothy Pospisil; 7 great-grandchildren, Constance Lange, Lilyanna Otting, Lillian Lange, Amiyah Purnell, Micah Webb, Karianna Wardell and Ariah Webb; his siblings, Betty Otting, Rosemary Heim, Phillip (Melissa) Otting, Grace Brade, Helen (Mark) Mitchley and Christine (Kevin) Lyght; and his in-laws, Peggy Otting, Phyliss (Loras) Arensdorf, Gail (Chris) Huston, Raymond (Beverly) Ward, Cletus Ward, Ronald Ward Sr. and Eleanor Ward.

Emil was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruby Otting; a son, Brian Otting; a grandson, Darren Bell; his father-in-law, and mother-in-law, Donald and Minnie Ward; his siblings, Sylvester Otting, Margaret (Johnny) Maize, Raymond Otting, Mary (Richard) Weber, Rachel Bartels; and his in-laws, Donald Ward Sr., Richard Ward, John Ward and Gary Ward.

Emil’s family would like to thank all of the wonderful people from Hospice of Dubuque for helping Emil and the family these past few weeks.

The family will thankfully receive your support through greeting cards and memorials in Emil’s memory which may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Emil Otting Family.

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

David C. Fluhr

David C. “Dave” Fluhr 88 of East Dubuque, IL passed away at 10:53 am on Friday March 15, 2024 at Mercy One Medical Center Dubuque Iowa, following a brief illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, March 21, 2024 at St. Mary’s Church in East Dubuque, with Fr. Dennis Vargas officiating.  Burial will be in the East Dubuque Cemetery, with military honors accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League and the Iowa Army National Guard.

Family and friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque, where the parish prayer service will be said at 2:30 p.m.

Dave was born May 17, 1935 to Joesph and Anna (Sendt) Fluhr.  He attended East Dubuque High School. He served in the military from 1955-1957. Dave was formerly employed at Caradco Mfg, and retired from Loras College.

On September 13, 1958 Dave married the love of his life, Bonita (Bonnie) Larson at St, Mary’s Church in East Dubuque, IL.  They were married for 65 years.

Dave had many hobbies, he loved fishing, hunting, gardening, and trap shooting. He and his boys share many good stories of their big hunting and fishing adventures.

Dave cherished his family. He especially loved big family get together’s with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish Dave’s memory are his beloved wife, Bonnie; his 6 children Joe (Darla) Fluhr, Jackie (Barry) Figel, Lloyd Fluhr, Jean (Steve) Robey, Mark (Dawn Wigmann) Fluhr and Gerry (Rhonda Schildgen) Fluhr; 9-grandchildren, 15-great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; his sister JoAnn Belken and In-laws Bob (Sharon) Holz and Ron (Karen) Larson; and nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Joesph and Anna, his two brothers Ken (Mary) Fluhr and Tom (Mary) Fluhr, and his special daughter in law Carol A Fluhr, In-laws Edward and Irma Larson, Don (Carol) Larson, Mike Larson and Dallas Belken.

The family would like to thank Dave’s medical team who took wonderful care of him. Dr. Mark Moore, Dr. Ramabadran, Dr. Janes and Dr. Ringold.

In Lieu of flowers a Dave Fluhr memorial fund has been established.

Feel free to wear your favorite Fishing and hunting apparel.

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

Delbert Klemme

Delbert “Delbie” Klemme, 63, of Bellevue and formerly of Preston, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2024 surrounded by his family.  A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, March 22, 2024 from 5pm – 8pm at the Preston Town Hall, Preston, Iowa. A private family graveside service will be held at the Preston Cemetery.  Local arrangements are entrusted to Hachmann-Mier Funeral & Cremation Service in Bellevue.

Delbie was born May 11, 1960, the son of Eldon and Doris (Roe) Klemme. He enjoyed a cold Busch Light, trail rides, a good game of euchre, side-by-side rides, and spending time outdoors.  Delbert lived a life devoted to farming, fun, and an unwavering commitment to his family and friends. He will be sadly missed by all.

Survivors include his siblings, Peggy (Marty) Mancebo, Keith (Diane) Klemme, Nancy (Chuck) Bentley, and Dennis (Shelia) Klemme; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Delbie was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Karol Mootz; brother, Steve Klemme; nephews, Troy and Dustin Klemme; and niece, Joy Kaiser.

The family would like to express gratitude for the compassionate care provided by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Jackson County Regional Health Center, and Hospice of Jackson County. We are forever grateful for the dedication of Delbie’s lifelong friend, Craig “Volgie” Volquardsen.

In honor of Delbie’s memory, the following individuals have been named honorary pallbearers; Todd Mangler, Jeff Gerlach, Doug Smithson, Bruce Weis, Virgil Kilburg, and Ricky Cunningham.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Delbie’s name. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.hachmannfunderalhome.com(http://www.hachmannfunderalhome.com/).

Delbie’s legacy will live on in the fields he tended, the lives he touched, and the hearts of all
who were fortunate enough to know him.

Karla K. Schramm

Karla K. Schramm, age 67, of Dubuque, IA, completed her earthly journey on March 15, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, while surrounded by her loving family.  To honor Karla’s life, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Karla’s family.

Karla was born on February 10, 1957, in Maquoketa, IA, a daughter to George A. and Darien M. (Schraff) Hayward.  Her main focus in life has always been her family and friends.  In her early years, she shared her time and talents as a CNA with different facilities around town.  Karla eventually spent the last eleven years as a bus driver for the Dubuque Regional Transit Authority and enjoyed meeting many new faces along the way.  She enjoyed traveling whenever possible and a day trip was never out of the question.  Karla even made a trip to Hawaii with her mother a priority at one point and the memories of that wonderful trip remain today to help ease the pain of her absence from our daily lives moving forward.  When she wasn’t traveling or at work, Karla was determined to spend as much time as possible with her grandsons.  Her heart belonged to them and every hour they were together, Karla was surely in her happy place.  It’s difficult to imagine a world without Karla’s quiet and kind-hearted demeanor residing among us, but we trust that she is now free from her earthly health battles.  Thank you, Karla, for sharing your love where and when you could and may the Lord now grant you the peace you deserve as we await patiently to see your beautiful smile once again.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Karla include,

her son, Richard Schramm II, Dubuque, IA;

her two grandsons,
Richie Schramm III,
and Mason Schramm, both of Dubuque, IA;

her mother,
Darien Hayward, Dubuque, IA;

her brothers,
Wade Hayward, Dubuque, IA,
and Larry Hayward, Bolivar, MO;

her sister-in-law,
Janice Hayward, Dubuque, IA;

along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Karla was preceded in death by her father, George A. Hayward; her two infant grandsons at birth; her ex-husband, Richard Schramm;  her siblings, Susan Hayward, Louis Hayward, and Elaine (Larry) Flagel; her sister-in-law, Kathy Hayward; and her nephew, Chad Hayward.

Karla’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Mercy Hospital for all of their professional and compassionate care.

Online condolences may be shared with Karla’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com

Ronald Hixon

Ronald “Ron” Hixon, age 84, of La Motte, IA, passed away March 14, 2024, at the University Of Iowa Hospitals Neurosurgery ICU while surrounded by his loving family.  To honor Ron’s life, a private family service is being held at Grandview Methodist Church at a later date.

Ron was born June 20, 1939, in Portland, OR, to Paul and Ruby (Campbell) Hixon.  Several years later the family moved to Long Beach, CA, where they lived until moving to Nebraska to the family farm when Ron was seven years old.  He graduated from Chapel Nebraska High School.  He attended and graduated from college at Kearney, NE.  He married Janet Kay Erickson in October, 1960.  Together they raised two beautiful daughters.  They later divorced.  Ron taught shop at Dubuque Senior High School from 1968 until 1980 when he began teaching at NICC until his retirement in 2000.  Ron also served in the Naval Reserve for 22 years from which he retired.  During his time of service he served on various ships, in Germany, Korea and Spain.

In 2006, Ron married his best friend, Lois Trent, and they traveled many countries together.  He loved their home in the country and spending time with his children and grandchildren both here and in Colorado.  He was an avid military history buff and whenever he could capture someone’s attention he would love to engage them in a discussion.  He enjoyed sitting by the fireplace in the winter and loved looking at the Christmas villages which adorned the mantel.  During the spring and summer, you could find Ron enjoying the deck overlooking the property and watching the hummingbirds at the feeders. He also loved racing around the lane giving rides in the Kubota side by side to the grandkids and great-grandkids. Ron was a cancer survivor, but in recent times experienced some health issues which eventually led to the University of Iowa Hospitals.

Surviving besides his wife, Lois Hixon, La Motte, IA; are his daughters, Cheryl (Jan) Knibbe, Foxfield, CO, and Chris (Randy) George, Colorado Springs, CO.  Four grandchildren: Kelsy (Greg) Stahl, Erin (Andrew) Evans, Kyle Knibbe, Erica (Andrew) Candia; and great-granddaughter, Kiera Candia.  Four step-children: Pamela (Scott) Scales, Durango, IA, Daniel (Hyun Sook) Trent, Cedar Rapids, IA, Karen (Kyle) Snay, St. Peter, MN, and Thomas (Amy) Trent, Coralville, IA.  Nine step-grandchildren: Shelby (Cody) Lange, Sabrina Scales, Samuel Scales, Connor Snay, Rowan Snay, Lauren Trent, Joshua Trent, Sang Huck (Mike) Lee, and Soo Hyun (Kara) Lee. One step great-grandson, James Lange.  Two brothers: Gary (Carol Ann) Hixon, and Tim (Kathy) Hixon, both of Ft. Collins, CO; many nieces and nephews; and former wife, Janet Hixon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and aunts and uncles.

The family wishes to thank all of the staff at the University of Iowa Hospital Neurosurgery Unit, along with the Palliative/Hospice Care for their compassionate care and concern.

Online condolences for Ron’s family may be left at www.tristatecremationcenter.com

Robin G. Groom

Robin G. Groom, age 61, of Dickeyville, WI, completed his earthly journey on March 14, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics while surrounded by his loving family.  To honor Robin’s life, his Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at P.J.’s Pub and Hall, 3670 County HHH in Kieler, WI.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Robin’s family.

Robin was born on January 10, 1963, in Hazel Green, WI, a son to David Gary and Elaine Ann (Kruser) Groom.  He grew up with a love for life and an unwavering devotion to family and friends which he carried proudly throughout his 61 years among us.  Robin eventually met his soul-mate, Sonya Holz, and the two have been blessed to spend over 39 years facing the world together day by day.  Robin was a structural welder by trade and invested over 40 years of his time and talents along the way.  He worked with both Tri Con Construction and Prism throughout his career and brought endless ideas and solutions to the table with both.  Robin was naturally mechanically gifted and to watch his mind work so seamlessly with his patience and drive was truly a sight to behold.

In his free-time, Robin always enjoyed being in the outdoors.  A nice sunny day burning up some miles on the bike was always on the top of the list, but a little kayaking, or Native American artifact hunting were also considered to be perfectly fine ways to spend the day productively.  Robin was also an avid horse enthusiast over the years and spent countless hours tending to and caring for them as it was more joy than work in his mind.  Robin was a good man who possessed an even greater heart for his fellow man.  He was not only talented in so many areas, but he was always willing to share his time and abilities with anyone around him.  Generous to a fault indeed and never regretted a moment thankfully.  But, all who knew Robin understood clearly that playing the role of “Papa” to his granddaughter’s was his fondest achievement of all.  His love was deep, vast, and true indeed.  We are going to miss Robin’s light-hearted nature coupled so perfectly with his strong will when necessary.  The world is truly a lesser place today without Robin’s light shining within it.  Thank you, Robin, for always keeping things straight forward in life and never thinking of yourself as more than required for every situation.  May the Lord keep you safe in His loving arms until we all meet again.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Robin include,

his beautiful bride of 31 years,
Sonya Groom, Dickeyville, WI;

his two children,
Shane (Sarah) Groom, Monfort, WI,
and Kathleen (Justin Potter) Groom, Dubuque, IA;

his five adored granddaughter’s,
Emalie, Savanna, Paisley Olivia and Aubrey;

his mother,
Elaine A. Groom, Dubuque, IA;

his siblings,
Jody Groom, Columbia, TN,
Gena (Mario) Contaldi, Keller, TX,
Martin (Jennifer) Groom, Columbia, TN,
Dean (Pam May) Groom, Platteville, WI,
and Dion Groom, Dickeyville, WI;

his sister-in-law,
Karen (Ricky) Wills, Leadmine, WI;

his brother-in-law,
Jeff Holz, Dubuque, IA;

along with numerous extended family, friends and neighbors.

Robin was preceded in death by his father, David Groom; one sister, Ann Marie; his father and mother-in-law, Leroy O. (Kathleen M.) Holz; and his brother-in-law, Anthony “Tony” Holz.

Robin’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque and the University of Iowa for all of their professional and compassionate care.  We would also like to express a very sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of our family and friends who have been so very supportive and caring during this difficult time.  We appreciate each one of you and may you all be blessed for your generosity and kindness.

Online condolences may be shared with Robin’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com

Joanne C. Garner

Joanne C. Garner, 82, of Dubuque passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2024.  A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road.

Joanne was born March 25, 1941 in Rochester, New Hampshire, daughter of Carlyle and Lilian (Faulkingham) Roberts.

She graduated from Aurora College.

On September 9, 1967, she married Gaylen Garner in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He preceded her in death on July 1, 2022.

Joanne loved the Lord.  She was a devoted wife who liked to entertain.  She was involved in many bible studies, the Christian Women’s Club, Women’s Missionary Fellowship, and sang in a trio for many years.

She is survived by three siblings, Carlyle (Nathalie) Roberts, Rebecca (Dana) Weedan, and Robin (Dana) Van Amburg, a brother-in-law, Kenneth Tidball, and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a sister, Deborah Tidball.

Memorials may be given to Hope Church or Bethany Home.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Bethany Home, especially those in the memory care unit, for their wonderful care.

Jason D. Bartels

Jason D. Bartels, 49, of Dubuque, died Friday, March 15, 2024, at his home in Dubuque, after a short battle with ALS.

Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until 5:45 pm Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory.

The Funeral Service for Jason will be 6:00 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory with Deacon Dave Roth officiating.

Jason was born September 16, 1974, in Dubuque, IA, the son of David and Elizabeth (Gillespie) Bartels. On December 1, 2001, he married Erica Johnson at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa.

Jason graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1993. After serving in the Army National Guard he began working for Klauer Manufacturing where he worked for 24 years. Most recently, he had been working as a delivery driver for Domino’s.

Jason enjoyed going bowling with Cody and Casey, watching wrestling and football, especially the Carolina Panthers. He also spent endless hours watching his favorite TV show, Sanford and Son. Most of all, Jason was happy when he got to spend time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Erica Bartels of Dubuque; his two sons, Cody Bartels and Casey Bartels both of Dubuque; his mother, Elizabeth Bartels of Dubuque; his father, David Bartels of Dubuque; his mother-in-law, Becky Johnson of Cascade, IA; one brother, Chris (Cari) Simpson; his siblings-in-law, Billy Johnson, Tracy Johnson, Jamie (Jenny) Johnson, and Joni Johnson; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ruth & Paul Gillespie; and two aunts, MaryAnn Vogt and Sharon Gillespie.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests memorials be given to the ALS Association.

The family would like to express a special Thank You to the UW-Madison Hospital neurology department, especially, Dr. Fertikh.

A photo tribute can be viewed and condolences sent to the family by visiting Jason’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.

Joseph R. Erschen

Joseph R. “Joe” Erschen, 75, of East Dubuque, IL. passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Hawkeye Care Center in Asbury.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19th at St. Raphael’s Cathedral, with Fr. Dennis Quint officiating.  Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military honors will accorded by members of the Dubuque Marine Corps League and the Iowa Army National Guard.

Family and friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday and from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque, where the parish vigil service will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Joe was born on July 29, 1948, in Dubuque, the son of Robert J. and Juanita Mae (Channell) Erschen.  He was a graduate of Wahlert High School, the class of 1967. Joe was a veteran of the U. S. Army serving during the Vietnam War.

He was the owner and operator of J & R Supply in East Dubuque. Joe loved Nascar racing, trips to the casinos, and antique cars.

His passion was J&R Supply. He poured his heart and soul into his company, where he had mutual respect, trust, and personal bonds with his employees that became his family. He had tremendous appreciation for his customers, where he cherished lifetime friendships he built. His belief was to take care of his customers and employees, and they will take care of you.

If you couldn’t find him at J&R Supply, he was more than likely taking his annual trip to St. Thomas with the family. It was there where he made treasurable memories that will last a lifetime.

Joe will always be remembered for his wittiness and famous one- liners. We’ll always imagine hearing him say “you know what you got when you got kids”. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Joe was strong-willed and stubborn at times, but he also had an enormous heart. He was extremely generous, loyal, and brave. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge he gained through all of his life experiences.

He will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them and if you knew him, you knew it. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and full of love. He will be missed dearly.

Joe was known for his generosity towards his community and those in need. Joe’s legacy he wants to leave behind would be to pay it forward and share kindness.

His departure comes as a great shock and it is gravely felt by his entire family and countless others who loved him dearly in his wide network of community.

Surviving are three children, Rob (Ashley) Erschen of East Dubuque, Rachel (fiancée Joe Widmeier) Erschen of Dubuque, and Natasha Erschen of East Dubuque, four step children, Tim Ruh of Dubuque, Debbie (Mark) Ferguson of Waukee, IA, Margo (Brett) Giese of Galena, IL, and Stephen Wimmer of Dubuque; six grandchildren, Mandi, Carter, Austin, Kaitlyn, Abigail, and Liam; his siblings, Olivia (Steve Starkey) Erschen, Joan “Miki” Erschen, Janice Erschen, and Ed Erschen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert, and Jaunita.

We would like to thank Midwest Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Dr. Mark Hermann, and nurses at Grand River Medical Group, the doctors and nurses of Finley Hospital, Hawkeye Care Center, and Hospice of Dubuque.

In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

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

Lewis J. Powell, Jr

Lewis J. Powell, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on March 11, 2024 at 3:52 AM after battling an illness.  He is now resting in peace with our dear Lord.

Lewis was a very loving and devoted husband, a very loyal friend, a dedicated son/ son-in-law, a caring brother/ brother-in-law, and a very fun uncle.

Family was very important to Lewis, and he enjoyed celebrating holidays with family, even when his health was giving away at the end. He cherished taking weekend trips to visit family and entertaining at home. He loved celebrating 4th of July as he would always have fireworks to entertain family and kids who would be visiting.  He enjoyed dressing up and putting up silly-funny-scary Halloween decorations.  During Christmas season, he loved to deck the house with colorful lights, dancing Santas and unique ornaments. Deep down, Lewis never lost the child in him, and he found joy and happiness in some of the basic things that most adults don’t make the time to enjoy.  Lewis lived in the moment and doing things he enjoyed. 

Lewis loved going to Wisconsin Dells and Disney World. He enjoyed road trips especially visiting relatives in Texas, best friend in Missouri, long-time friends in Florida. His plan was to travel to different states every year.

Lewis loved to shop and would spend hours to find unique and whimsical gifts for family and friends. He was a movie buff and was very proud of his great DVD collection. He loved his dogs and would walk them out even when he was already frail. He was kind to animals and many times adopted strays. He enjoyed gardening and was always proud of his harvest. He had great sense of humor and would play fun pranks on kids and adults to make them laugh. Lewis had a very generous heart, he was always willing to help anyone in need, taking people in, and lending helping hands. He always saw the good in everyone.

Lewis will be remembered for his deep commitment to family, his kind and gentle nature, his love for animals, his deep faith and spirituality that he never imposed on others but exuded in the manner he lived, and for his humility and generosity. Lewis had touched many lives.  His memory will live on, and he will be deeply missed.

A memorial gathering and prayer service celebrating the life of Lewis will take place on March 23, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003 with a service to be held at 11:30 a.m. 

Mark A. Mensen

Mark A. Mensen, 66, of Earlville, Iowa passed away Thursday, March 14, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville.  Visitation will continue at Kramer Funeral Home from 9 – 10 a.m. prior to funeral mass.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earlville, Iowa, with burial at a later date at the church cemetery.  Rev. Philip Agyei will officiate.

Mark was born on August 6, 1957 in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Arnold and Charlotte (Funke) Mensen.  He married Cindy Sellner on August 20, 1977 in Earlville, Iowa. 

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was quick-witted and enjoyed a good laugh. He greatly enjoyed ice fishing, time at the shop with friends, driving his golf cart around town, and attending the grandchildren’s activities. He worked at Bard Concrete for many years. In his spare time, he loved woodworking. Mark was proud of Earlville, serving on the Earlville Fire Department, assisting with Boy Scouts and the Earlville Little League.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Cindy; children: Andy Mensen of Delhi, Jamie (Mindy) Mensen of Delhi, Lindsay (Zach) Bindert of Elkader; grandchildren: Owen, Ella, Eva, Izzy, Bradley, Benjamin, Caroline; siblings: Bob (Georgina) Mensen of New Vienna, Rose (Jerry) Moorman of Manchester, David (Karen) Mensen of Delhi, Brenda (Phil) Luensmann of Salida, CO; mother-in-law, Donna Sellner of Manchester; in-laws: Debi (Ron) Mensen of Earlville, Vicki Meyer of Dyersville, Gary (Karelene) Sellner, Larry (LouAnn) Sellner, both of Earlville.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Irvin Sellner; in-laws: James Philipp, Terry Meyer; and a niece, Annette Mensen.

The family would like to thank the staff at St. Croix Hospice and Dr. Gerst for their compassionate care.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family and information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.  Memorials may be sent to the family, (in care of Kramer Funeral Home) 750 12^th Ave SW, Dyersville, IA  52040.