Obituaries Archive

Scott J. Spensley

Scott J. Spensley, age 60, of Dubuque, Iowa, completed his earthly journey on September 21, 2020, at home, surrounded by his loving family.  To honor Scott’s life, a private family service is being held.  Burial will be in the Center Grove United Methodist Cemetery in Dubuque.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Scott’s family.

Scott was born on August 22, 1960, in Dubuque, Iowa, one of six children to Thomas W. and Mary (Kinnie) Spensley, Sr.  Scott discovered his love for life and music at a very early age and would continue to embrace both until the very end.  He thoroughly enjoyed his many years playing in the band “Roller” and was always willing to pick up his guitar for anyone who would listen, or had a special request.  Scott spent his working hours primarily as a Master Carpenter with Flynn Concrete, the Floor Show of Dubuque, and finally with Knautz Flooring.  If Scott wasn’t working, or practicing his licks, you could generally find him in the great outdoors.  An afternoon of fishing on the water’s edge, a weekend of sitting around the campfire, or even any opportunity to simply get out for a ride on his bike were all acceptable ways to spend a little free-time when it arrived.  Scott possessed a wonderfully free spirit and always looked for the simple pleasures in life.  We find ourselves wishing we could have had just a little more time with him, but also regrettably realize that we must accept that his health issues were simply not going to be resolved while he was confined within his mortal body.  We pray that he has finally found the peace he so deserves now and that the Lord will be gracious enough to heal our hearts as well and we must face the days ahead without Scott’s bright light shining upon them.  Thank you, Scott, for always showing us not to take life to seriously and may peace be both yours and ours until we meet again.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Scott include,

his loving daughter,
Nicole (Zach) Salyer, East Dubuque, Illinois;

his grandchildren,
Hayven Salyer, Kensly Salyer, and Dawsyn Salyer;

his siblings,
Thomas W. (Janice) Spensley, Jr., Dubuque, Iowa,
Barbara Kieler, New Jersey,
Roger Spensley, Guttenberg, Iowa,
and Susan (David) Lau, Dubuque, Iowa;

his special friend and Nicole’s mother,
Karen Regan, Dubuque, Iowa;

along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Scott was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sandra Spensley.

We appreciate your understanding with us holding a private family service during this unprecedented year, but please know that any food, flowers, memorials, or other expressions of sympathy are surely welcome and may be sent directly to Scott’s family at 981 Route 35, East Dubuque, Illinois, 61025.  Thank you in advance for your consideration and compassion.

Scott’s family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, along with the nurses and staff at St. Croix Hospice for all of their professional and compassionate care.  And a very special thank you to Scott’s sister, Sue, who devoted countless hours to surrounding him with the love and support he so deserved during the final days of his battle.  We cannot thank you all enough for your generosity, concern, and sacrifice and may your lives be blessed as you have blessed ours!

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

Lee G. Buchner

Lee G. Buchner, 71, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away on Monday, September 21, 2020, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa.

A private family graveside service and burial celebrating Lee’s life will be held at a later date at Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa.  At Peace Cremation Services have taken place.  There is no public visitation or service planned.  The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is caring for the family.

Lee Gilkey Buchner was born on September 10, 1949 in Clinton, Iowa, to James Carson and Jean (Gilkey) Buchner.  He was a graduate of Maquoketa High School and then attended college at UNI and later at the University of Wyoming for a couple years where he became interested in Beekeeping and the study of Bees.  He married Jean River on July 11, 1989 at Pike’s Peak in Marquette, Iowa.  To this union one child was born, Benjamin.

Following college and the death of his father, Lee returned home to Iowa for a short time and then moved to Alaska where he worked for Beekeeper’s and a Salmon Cannery.  He then returned home to Maquoketa and received a job with Adee Honey Farms.  This job took him to different parts of the United States and allowed him to continue working in the Bee field.  He retired ten years ago to care for his mother but continued to be a local expert on Bee’s and enjoyed helping area Beekeeper’s with their projects.

Lee loved the outdoors, trapping and hunting, especially with his good friend Larry Derganz and his crew.

Those left to honor his memory include a son, Ben Buchner of Maquoketa, IA; his mother, Jean Buchner of Maquoketa, IA; and a brother, Jay (Kathy) Buchner of Jackson, WY.  He was preceded in death by his father James Carson Buchner in 1974.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.

Maxine F. Miller

Maxine F. Miller, 85, of Maquoketa, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 21, 2020, at her home.

A public graveside service and burial celebrating Maxine’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, September 26, 2020 at East Iron Hill Cemetery, rural Maquoketa, Iowa. A public memorial visitation will take place from 5 to 7 P.M. on Friday, September 25, 2020, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa.

It is recommended to utilize masks during the visitation and practice social distancing due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Maxine Fae Tracy was born on June 28, 1935 in Milford, Iowa, to Clifford and Esther (Sonnemaker) Tracy. She attended the Cedar Grove Grade Country School and then Maquoketa High School with the Class of 1953. She married Donald Franklin Miller on December 22, 1951 in Rural Baldwin, Iowa. Three children were born to this union, Joyce, Stephen and Tracy.

Maxine was a homemaker and farmed with her husband in the Maquoketa area for many years. In earlier years, she had worked at area restaurants and at the sale barn.

Maxine was a member of the East Iron Hill Community Church and the East Iron Hill Church Ladies Aid. She enjoyed being a part of the Class of 1953 luncheons. Additionally, she enjoyed gardening, canning, picking berries, and sewing. She loved to bake and was known by many for her homemade pies and bread.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Joyce (Kim) Richardson of Pelican Lakes, MN, and Tracy (Keith) Nims of Davenport, IA; 7 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; sisters, Delores DeLarm of Wyoming, IA, and Shirley (Keith) Crow of Amery, WI; and brothers, Mark (Nettie) Tracy of Onslow, IA, Jerry (Jan) Tracy of Hazel Green, WI and Burt (Rosemary) Tracy of Wyoming, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald on September 1, 2018, brothers Carlyle and Darryl Tracy, a sister Leona Soppe, a son Stephen Miller on June 13, 2020, and a daughter-in-law Barbara Miller on August 27, 2020.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Hospice of Jackson County and her special caregivers.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a Maxine F. Miller memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.

Shirley J. (Krier) Kruser

Shirley J. (Krier) Kruser, 81, of rural Hazel Green, WI, passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Luther Manor-Grand Meadows in Asbury, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 24, 2020 at St. Joseph Church, Sinsinawa, WI, with Fr. Ken Frisch officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. The funeral mass will be live-streamed on The Miller Funeral Home Group Facebook page. Visitation is from 9:00 -10:45 a.m. on Thursday at St. Joseph Church, Sinsinawa. The Miller Funeral Home of East Dubuque is serving the family.

Shirley was born on October 27, 1938 in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Leila (Said) Krier. She was a graduate of Dubuque Senior High School, the class of 1957. Shirley was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” E. Kruser on October 11, 1958 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubuque, Iowa.

She was formerly employed in clerical operations at the Sears Automotive Department. She served on the boards of St. Joseph Church Council, and was past President of the Local 150 Ladies Auxiliary and Ladies CCW.

Shirley loved fishing and traveling with her husband Bob. They have been to every state, Panama, Mexico, and Canada. She was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and Iowa Hawkeyes having attended many games. But most of all she loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially when they had family gatherings. She was extremely proud of their home in Mission, Texas, and thought of the people there at Fiesta Village as second family. Shirley loved making new friends, but also keeping the old ones.

Surviving are her husband Bob; six children, Robert “Bob” (Julie) Kruser, II, of Asbury, IA, Lee Ann (Troy) Downs of Osceola, IA, Randy (Angie Wilhite) Kruser of Searcy, AR, Lisa (Mark) Hoppman of Cuba City, WI, Ryan (Jenna Stocker) Kruser of Monroe, WI, and Rod (Nicole) Kruser of East Dubuque, IL; 15-grandchildren, Corey (Amanda) Kruser, Kendra Kruser, Chris (Ashley) Downs, Shane (Jennifer) Downs, Kayli Kruser, Ben Kruser, Cordaro Kruser, Cody Kruser, Kyle (Laurel) Hoppman, Josh Hoppman, Adam Hoppman, Michael Kruser, Jacob Kruser, Wyatt Kruser and Lydia Kruser, two step-grandchildren, Kirstin George and Jordan (Karoline) George; two great-grandchildren, Logan and Desmond; four step-great-grandchildren, Karlee, Brennen, Kloie, and Beatrice; a brother, Nicholas A. Krier of Washington State; sisters-in-law, Debra Krier and Rosemary Moore, and brothers-in-law, Ambrose (Rosie) Kruser and Merlin Kruser; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Leila; a grandson, Robert E. Kruser, III, a brother, Joseph H. Krier II, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Frank and Pearl Kruser; brothers-in-law, Bob Moore, Allan Kruser, Tom Kruser and sister-in-law Doris Kruser.

Bob and family wish to thank the Luther Manor staff at the Grand Meadows, Tri-State Dialysis, especially Drs. Ringold and Whalen and their nurse Charlie and staff for the wonderful care given to Shirley.

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

Richard M. Eddy

Richard Martin “Dick” Eddy, 85, of Dubuque, died Monday, September 21, 2020, at home surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Thursday, September 24, 2020 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Road. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 PM. Please respect our current social distancing requirements. In accordance with the city mask mandate, masks are required at the visitation and the mass. If you are not feeling well or are unable to attend, we encourage you to visit www.hskfhcares.com to send a message to Dick’s family. The Mass of Christian Burial for Dick will be 10:00 AM Friday, September 25, 2020, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Dubuque, with Father Jim Goerend as the Celebrant. The mass will be live streamed on Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home’s Facebook page and will also be available to view later at www.hskfhcares.com.

Dick was born January 18, 1935, in Dubuque, the son of Donald Wesley and Eldora Christina (Richard) Eddy. On November 27, 1954, he married Darlene Ann Schmit at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubuque. They enjoyed 64 beautiful years of marriage and were best friends.

He graduated from Loras Academy in Dubuque in 1953. He was a local standout basketball star and was offered a basketball scholarship from Michigan State. He attended the University of Northern Iowa.

He was an insurance agent/manager for Metropolitan Life.

He enjoyed a good game of poker with friends, playing cards, golf, and was an avid Cardinals fan. More than anything, he loved his family and treasured his time with them.

He was an Exalted Ruler and Secretary for the Elks Lodge #297 and a member of the Moose Lodge, and Dubuque Shooting Society 660 Club.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene; two sons, Dick (Paula) Eddy of DeForest, WI and Jeff (Char) Eddy of Dubuque; two daughters, Kathy (Steve) McDermott of East Dubuque, and Nancy (Dave) Crimmins of Asbury; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and three nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Mary Lou Jacobi, and one brother, Donald Eddy.

Memorials have been established for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Dubuque Humane Society.

The family thanks Dr. Kirkendall and his nurse Kate, Hospice of Dubuque, and Finley Home Care nurse, Heidi.

Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in care of the arrangements.

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

John W. Welu

John W. Welu, age 68, of Dubuque, Iowa, went home to the Lord on September 16, 2020, at the Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded by his loving family. To honor John’s life, a private family service will be held, with a public Celebration of Life tentatively being scheduled in the spring of 2021. Burial will be in the Linwood Cemetery in Dubuque at a later date. The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving John’s family.

John was born on April 14, 1952, in Dubuque, Iowa, a son to Peter D. and Grace (Mehl) Welu. The family moved to Asbury, Iowa when John was one year old and this is where he spent his childhood playing baseball, participating in 4-H activities and helping a neighborhood farmer. He met his beautiful bride, Betty Koethe, while they both worked at Montgomery Wards and they were married in 1973.

All who knew and loved John say he was best known as a Jack of all Trades, a family man, a farmer, and a fisherman; but, truth be known, he was so much more. His trades included a front-end alignment specialist, guitarist, newspaper delivery man, farm equipment mechanic, maintenance electrician, softball coach, construction maintenance electrician, school bus driver and ready-mix truck driver. He proudly invested his time and talents with Ray’s Bee-Line, K-Mart automotive, the Eldon Koethe Band, Telegraph Herald, Koethe Implement, FDL, Sherrill Softball League, Premier Tooling and Manufacturing, Dubuque Community School District, and Apex Concrete.

John made a lifelong dream come true by acquiring a cabin on Lake Inguadona in Longville, Minnesota, as a relaxing retreat for him and his family to escape the hectic life and create lifelong memories together. In his free-time, John’s favorite activities were visiting or playing cards and games with his family and friends, fishing for bass, or sitting on his cabin porch to just relax. He even found time to quietly sit in his hunting blind waiting for the unsuspecting duck to cross his line of vision.

John was a hard-working, kind, loyal and honest man who truly made the world a better place by simply being present within it. His dedication to those he cared for was unwavering. And if you were blessed to have been invited into John’s inner circle of friends, you were quite often exposed to his quick wit and perfectly timed sense of humor as well.

We have watched John fight the good fight against cancer for many years and our hearts now possess an unmendable tear as we watched him suddenly surrender his soul to his loving Lord and Savior. Thankfully, John has left behind a wonderful collection of memories, stories, and lessons for us to carry forward as we patiently wait for our eventual reunion with this uniquely rare breed of man among men. Thank you, John, for always being the best you could be through each and every day and may the peace you were so determined to know and possess, finally be yours. God Bless and God Speed John!

Those left behind to cherish the memory of John include,

his loving wife, Betty Welu, Dubuque, Iowa;

his 3 adored children,
Stephanie (Gary) Otkin, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin;
Jess (Ana) Welu, Longville, Minnesota,
and Angel Welu, Dubuque, Iowa;

his 7 grandchildren,
Hayden Otkin, Ian Otkin, Ruby Otkin, John E. Welu, Jacob Paulsen, Salem Brown-Welu, and Wyatt Brown-Welu;

his siblings,
Peter R. “Dick” (Sharon) Welu, Dubuque, Iowa,
Paul (Charlene) Welu, Anoka, Minnesota,
Nancy Welu, Dubuque, Iowa,
and Sue (Neil) Spoden, Dyersville, Iowa;

along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his son, John Paul Welu; an unborn grandchild, Kai Welu; and his mother and father-in-law, Eldon F. and Irma (Gremmels) Koethe.

John’s family have a very special appreciation for Dr. Patrick B. Johnston, M.D., Ph.D., his Mayo oncologist and Elizabeth Lohmann P.A.-C., M.S., Hematology/Oncology, who are valued as professionals and friends. They want to send their gratitude to the many numerous doctors, nurses, technicians and staff at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Hospitals for all of their professional and personal care they provided to John and his family. A warm and sincere thank you goes to all of John’s family and friends who have been so supportive throughout John’s battle with cancer. May God shine his eternal light and love on all of your lives.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made in John’s name to the Mayo Clinic Lymphoma Research through the Mayo Clinic Department of Development at 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, or at https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donatemc

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

Ramona L. Shireman

Ramona L. “Sis” (Jaeger) Shireman, age 91, of Dubuque, passed away at 10:15 a.m., on Saturday, September 19, 2020, at Sunnycrest Manor.  To celebrate Ramona’s life, family and friends may visit from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Balltown, Iowa.  Due to the COVID-19 concerns all who attend will be required to wear a face covering.  To honor Ramona’s life, funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, with Rev. Noah Diehm officiating.  Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery.  Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street is in charge of arrangements.

Sis was born on September 13, 1929, in Waupeton, Iowa, daughter of Henry and Mary (Meyer) Jaeger.

Sis grew up in the country and attended school in Balltown. Sis enjoyed the simple things in life, preferring to spend time at home unless she was out dancing at the Deerland Ballroom.  She was also known to indulge in a little “retail therapy”, looking for her next great find.  Sis will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Those left to cherish Sis’ memory include

her nieces and nephews,
Judy (Paul) Demkier, Dubuque, IA,
Joan (Mike) Hames, LeClair, IA,
Bob (Jackie) Jaeger, Dubuque, IA,
Daniel (Jeannine) Jaeger, Dubuque, IA
and Donald (Mary) Jaeger, Dubuque, IA.

Sis was preceded in death by her parents; her 3 brothers, Joseph Jaeger, Donald (Jeanette) Jaeger and Lawrence (Marcella) Jaeger; and a niece, Laurie Haun.

Sis’ family would like to thank all of the nurses and staff members at Sunnycrest for their kind and compassionate care of Ramona, and for making her a part of their extended family.

Memorials will be accepted by the family to be distributed among Sis’ favorite charities and may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Attn. Ramona “Sis” Shireman Family.

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

James L. Indihar

James “Jim” L. Indihar, 88, of Dubuque, died peacefully at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center on Saturday, September 19, 2020.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Jim will be Friday, September 25, 2020 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1870 St. Ambrose Street, Dubuque with Rev Fr. Steven Rosonke as the Celebrant, with visitation beginning one hour prior to mass at the church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery – Harpers Ferry. The mass will be live streamed on Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home’s Facebook page and will also be available to view later at www.hskfhcares.com. Please respect our current social distancing requirements. In accordance with the city mask mandate, masks are required at the visitation and the mass. If you are not feeling well or are unable to attend, we encourage you to visit www.hskfhcares.com to send a messages to Jim’s family.

Jim was born in Chisholm, MN on December 10, 1931 to Dr. John and Helen (Koresh) Indihar. He graduated from Chisholm Schools in 1949. He attended St. Thomas University and received his B.A. degree in Business – Economics from the University of Minnesota, Duluth and his B.S. and M.S. degrees, cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin – Stout. He was a member of Delta Kappa and Epsilon Pi Tau, international honor fraternity in graduate school.

Before coming to Dubuque, he worked in the automotive field in Hibbing and Aurora, MN.

He taught automotive classes at Minnesota State University – Mankato and Dubuque Senior High School from 1958 – 1993.

Jim enjoyed spending many summers at their lake home in Northern MN waterskiing, swimming and boating. He enjoyed traveling and spent a summer in Europe driving through 16 countries and crossed into Africa.

On June 16, 1962, he married his sweetheart, Judy, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, IA. They were parents of three children. Since retirement, Jim and Judy spent winters at their home in Sun City, AZ, traveled throughout the West and made a special trip to Ireland until health issues became a problem.

He is survived by his wife, Judy; two daughters, Janelle (Mike) Woods of Burnsville, MN and Jill (Todd) Hearron of Gilbert, AZ; four grandchildren, Lauren Woods of Dodgeville, WI, Brandon Woods of Mankato, MN and Abby and Chloe Hearron of Gilbert, AZ; nieces, cousins and sisters-in-law, Marion Indihar of Joseph, OR and Julie Wiedner of Coralville, IA.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. John and Helen Indihar; one brother, Dr. John Jr.; one son, James (Jim) Jr.; his father and mother-in-law, Melvin (Mel) and Irene Wiedner; brother-in-law, John Wiedner and niece Karin Wiedner.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in care of the arrangements.

Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Jim’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.

Edith Mills

John P. Jamison

John Paul Jamison, age 80, of Beetown, WI, passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease on Friday, September 18, 2020 at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster, WI.  He was born in Beetown on November 14, 1939, the son of Paul and Helen (Garthwaite) Jamison.  John grew up in Beetown and worked at Jamison’s Store, which was purchased by his grandfather, John A. Jamison, in 1903.  John took over operating all phases of the store, except appliances, when his father became ill in 1974. To say John loved to visit with people would be an understatement – he always had a story to share and his store was a popular meeting place.  John loved sports and enjoyed watching the Packers, Brewers and Badgers.  His passion inspired him to sponsor Jamison’s Store Slowpitch Softball Team in 1971.  John was devoted to his team, buying them uniforms, keeping stats, giving out team awards, etc.  One of the major highlights of his life, was when they took the gold medal at the Badger State Games.  The team was his pride and joy, and players still recall what a meticulous statistician John was and his impeccable sports knowledge.  John had a strong faith in God and was active at the Beetown United Methodist Church.  He truly lived a Christian life, always being generous and looking on the bright side of life, even during his illness.   John was the heart of Beetown; everybody knew him because he treated everybody the same – like a friend.

John is survived by his nieces and nephews: Diane (Greg) Larson, Jim (Vicki) Jensen, Tracy Johnson, Tim (Lori) Jensen, Jeff (Carla) Jensen, Steve (Denise) Jensen, Jane (Jack) Whitish, Cathy (Dick) Foley, Karen (Pat “Boney”) Russell, Dan (Tori Knox) Blum, and Dennis Blum; many great-nieces and nephews; and a brother-in-law, Pete Blum.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his sisters: Delores (Leo “Bud”) Jensen, Betty (Claire) Blackbourn, and Janet Blum.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at the Beetown Cemetery with Mary Ann Floerke officiating.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.  The Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory in Lancaster is entrusted with his services.

The family wished to give special thanks to Jamie Ackerman, Jim and Vicki Jensen, and Tracy Johnson for all their help making it possible for John to stay at home in Beetown as long as possible. 

Online condolences:  www.martinschwartzfuneralhomes.com

Ann Helling

Ann (Stronck) Helling, 69 of Dubuque, Iowa passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, September 17, 2020, at Mercy One Dubuque Medical Center.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Monday, September 21st.  Friends may call from 11am to 4pm Sunday, September 20th and Monday, September 21st. after 9:30 am. All services to be held at the Cathedral of St. Raphael Church in Dubuque, with Msgr. Thomas Toale officiating.  Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Dyersville, IA, at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Monday.

Facemasks and Social Distancing will be required.

Miller Funeral Home of East Dubuque is assisting the family with arrangements.

The funeral mass will be live-streamed on the Miller Funeral Home Group Facebook Page.

Ann was born February 7, 1951 in Dubuque, Iowa to Gerald and Ruth (Dunkel) Stronck.

Ann and her sister Rosemary (Rosey) grew up on a farm in Greeley, Iowa.  Ann attended Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi, Iowa.

Ann had many talents and gifts. She worked as a hair stylist and a secretary at One Stop Tax Service where she met the love of her life, Gus. Ann then worked in the IT Department at Interstate Power Company/Alliant Energy until she retired in June 2018.

Gus and Ann were married January 5, 1974 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Greeley, Iowa. Ann loved spending time with her family.  She has 4 daughters and 15 grandchildren, who were the center of her life.  Gus, Ann and the girls spent many years enjoying boating and camping on the river making memories with lifelong friends.  Ann’s love for her family was at the heart of everything she did.

Ann was a devoted Catholic.  She was very active at the Cathedral and at East Dubuque Adoration Chapel. She was over the top generous with her time, talent and donations.  Her volunteering activities included being the Director of the prayer shawl ministry and organizing the Seven Sisters Group.  She devoted many hours at the Dubuque Rescue Mission and encouraged many others to do the same.  She spent many hours planning meals, decorating, gardening, painting and secretarial duties at the Cathedral and St. Patricks.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Victor (Gus), and daughters Amy (BJ) Belken, of Eldridge.  Sarah (Jason) Francois, Kristin (Matt) Walker of Dubuque, and Kim (Matt) Lane of Des Moines.  Grandchildren Lauren, Ben, Katherine, and Luke Belken.  Collin, Victoria, Johnny, Adrian and Timmy Francois.  Gus, Mia, and Hank Walker.  Bo, Charley and Ruthie Lane.  Her sister Rosemary Stronck,  her-in laws, Pat Casey, Tom and Sherry Helling, Herb Klinkhammer, Peg Helling, Joyce Helling, and her horse “Little Saint Blaze”.

Ann had many hobbies, including gardening, sewing, and caring for her beloved horses.

She was a kind, caring, selfless person, known for her contagious smile and warm hugs.  Ann had the ability to make everyone feel special and will be in our hearts forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Gerald Stronck, mother and father in law, Geraldine and Victor Helling, brother in laws Jim and Bob Helling, Tom Casey and sister in law Carol Klinkhammer.

We would like to thank Dubuque EMT’S, Police and Fire Department along with the doctors, nurses and staff at Mercy One for the care they gave Ann.

In Lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to Ann Helling Memorial fund which will be donated to her favorite charities.

In respect of the family, Artistic Cleaners will be closed Monday, September 21st.

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

Beverly J. Henss

Beverly J. Henss, age 81, of East Dubuque, Illinois, completed her earthly journey on September 16, 2020, at home, surrounded by her loving family.  To honor Beverly’s life, a public Celebration of Life will be held in Arizona in the spring.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Beverly’s family.

Beverly was born on July 12, 1939, in Dubuque, Iowa, one of two daughters to John Link and one of three daughters to Mildred (Bemis) Link.  At a young age, Beverly could be seen on both the runway and the silver screen.  She received her big break in the film industry in the movie South Pacific, and thoroughly enjoyed her early years spending time with some of the biggest names in entertainment.  Eventually, Beverly made her way back to the Dubuque area to be close to family and run Siefert’s in Kennedy Mall for many years. Later, she went on to own her Boutiques in Arizona before retiring. She was also naturally gifted in decorating and interior design and this carried into her personal life as well.  Beverly was always ready for the festivities of some company over to the house, or a night on the town, but either way, Beverly was always dressed to the tee in the latest fashions.  She was quite social, always full of sound advice, and beyond generous to a fault, but underneath it all; she loved being a grandma and great-grandma most of all.  Her heart was tender, her hugs sincere, and her love never met a challenge it couldn’t overwhelm in the end.  We will miss our beloved mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister, and friend, but we know that she was tired after fighting for years while confined within her mortal body and is now free from all of the pain which slowly tried to dim her bright light and beautiful spirit.  Thank you, Beverly, for the excellent example of how a true matriarch should operate in this world and may the peace of the Lord be with you until we meet again.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Beverly include,

her loving children,
Frank Weir, East Dubuque, Illinois,
Sondra Mixdorf, Dubuque, Iowa,
Gloria (Jodi) Rife, Arizona City, Arizona,
Mark Henss, Phoenix, Arizona,
and Yvette Cercone, Newport Beach, California;

her adored grandchildren,
Zachary (Sommer) Mixdorf, Nate Mixdorf, Myra Mixdorf, Justin Mixdorf, Ayla Mixdorf, Jeffrey Gilbert, Isabella Henss, Tristan Henss, Aidan Henss, Ethan Henss, and Dylan Henss;

her 5 great-grandchildren;

her sisters,
Candace (Al) Manger, Sun City, Arizona,
and Mona (Charles) Link, Kailua, Hawaii;

her Godson,
Brad Hingtgen, Williston, North Dakota;

along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Fred Henss.

Beverly’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Hospice of Dubuque for all of the professional and compassionate care and support.

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

James P. Hansen

James P. Hansen, 89, of Dubuque, died Thursday, September 17, 2020, at his home.

Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Monday September 21, 2020, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Cremation Service 3860 Asbury Road. Please respect our current social distancing requirements. If you are not feeling well or are unable to attend, we encourage you to visit www.hskfhcares.com to send a message to Jim’s family.

The Funeral Service for Jim will be 2:00 PM Monday, September 21, 2020, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Cremation Service with Scott Glover officiating. Burial will be in Center Grove Cemetery in Dubuque.  Full military honors will be rendered by the American Legion Post #6. The service will be live streamed on Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home’s Facebook page and will also be available to view later at www.hskfhcares.com.

James was born July 22, 1931, in Anamosa, the son of Jesse and Harriet Johnson Hansen. On June 4, 1955, he married Doris J. Schwarz in O’Fallon, IL.

He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving from March 27, 1951 until March 26, 1955. During his time in the military, he earned a Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and a United Nations Service Medal.

He was the owner of Hansen Communications and also owned Radford Self Storage. Jim was also a member of Hawkeye Vintage Farm Machinery Association.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; one son, Alan Hansen of Omro, WI; three daughters, Betsy Hansen of Dubuque, Joyce (Darrell) Whitt of Dubuque, Laurie (Todd) Stone of S.Lyon, MI; 10 grandchildren, Ryan (Lindsay) Hansen, Craig (Mallory) Hansen, Kaitlin Hansen, Abby (Chris) Bremner, James (Madeleine) Yosch, Rachel (Matthew) Drapeau, Amanda (Tom) Paar, Christopher “CJ” Whitt, Andrew Stone, and Adam Stone; 10 great grandchildren Remy, Rhys, Hazel, Noah, Archer, Xavier, Seeley, Rowan, Makayla and Lillyann; and several brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Pete, Sally and Virginia.

A special thank you to for the wonderful  loving care from Hospice of Dubuque especially Mariah.

Condolences sent to the family by visiting Jim’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.

Suzanne R. (Miller) Jordan

Suzanne Rea (Miller) Jordan, 66, of rural Lost Nation, Iowa, a long-time resident of Davenport, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at her home surrounded by her family.

Per her wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service and time of remembrance will be held at 1 P.M., Saturday, October 3, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church Camp in DeWitt. A meal will be served prior to the service beginning at 11 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. Please plan on joining us for dinner and fellowship before proceeding to the service. The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is caring for the family. It is recommended that you practice social distancing guidelines due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Suzanne was born on August 24, 1954, in Muscatine, IA. Her family moved to Davenport soon thereafter and she attended Davenport schools, graduating from Central High School in 1972. She began working for the city of Davenport in 1979 in a clerical position. Suzanne held several positions over the years and retired in 2010 as a Financial Specialist. Despite a long-held dread of flying, she chose to go skydiving to celebrate her retirement.
Her goal in retirement was to be of service to others. She found great fulfillment performing these services through a variety of activities, both to individuals, and in group settings. She was especially blessed to be able to show Honor and Respect to our American military members and veterans.

Suzanne treasured the many friends she made during her journey through life. She chose to surround herself with uplifting people and tried to bring cheer to them as well.

She is survived by her long-term partner in life, Patrick Bailey; her son, James Jordan of Davenport; sisters, Lynne King of DeWitt, and Kristi Miller of Davenport, and her “adopted stepson”, James Bailey of Davenport.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Miller and her special grandma, Marge Edstrom. Also preceding her are her grandparents, Frank and Harriet Miller, and Ralph and Dorothy Essex, a brother Doug Miller and her mother Beverly Vann.

Online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.

Patti J. Lindecker

Patti J. Lindecker, 58, of Dubuque died Monday, September 14, 2020 at Unity Point Health-Finley Hospital, with her family by her side. Private family services will be held at a later date. Entombment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.

Patti was born December 28, 1961 in Dubuque, daughter of Milton and Corrine (Weiner) Chapman. On November 21, 1981 she married Pete Lindecker at the Church of the Nativity.

Patti treasured her family, especially her grandkids. A perfect day was held at home with all her family together, including her dog, the gentle giant Bammer.

She is survived by her husband, Pete; a son, Lucas Peter Earl (Kelly) Lindecker of Dubuque and their children, Clayten, Hailey (Missy Mae) and Lauren (LuLu); and a daughter, Natalie (Brian) Thompson and their children, Austin and Ava (Ava Mae).
She is also survived by four siblings, Rick (Pam) Chapman, Lynn (Dan) Schlueter, Sandy (John) Hahn and Danny (Dawn) Chapman; many nieces/nephews and in-laws.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Debbie Dodds; and a brother, Mike Chapman.

The Egelhof, Siegert and Casper Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road is in charge of arrangements.

The family would like to thank Dr. Edward Miles, Dr. Eric Engelman, Dr. Jason Ellis and the nurses and staff at Unity Point Health-Finley and Mercy One for their care.