Cecil A. Duffy, age 86, of Dubuque, was called home suddenly at 2:14 a.m., on Friday, February 2, 2018, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. To honor Cecil’s life, funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at St. Raphael’s Cathedral, 231 Bluff Street, with Msgr. Thomas E. Toale officiating. To celebrate Cecil’s life, family and friends may visit from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where a parish scripture wake service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Cecil was born on August 21, 1931, in Middlefield Township, Buchanan County, Iowa, son of Clement F. “Clem” and Genevieve “Jane” (Heffernan) Duffy.

Cecil was united in marriage to the love of his life, Marilyn Herber, on October 8, 1955, at Sacred Heart Church in Dubuque. They were blessed with 52 years together, and 5 wonderful children, before Marilyn was sadly called home ahead of him on December 12, 2007. Cecil was a loyal employee of John Deere Dubuque Works for almost 38 years of his life after beginning his working career at the ripe young age of 15. In his free time, Cecil was fortunate enough to have many interests to occupy his mind along his 86 year earthly journey. A peaceful morning hunting for pheasant and quail, countless hours raising his hunting dogs, an afternoon boating on the river, or even an evening around the card table working on his best poker or euchre hands were always considered time well spent to Cecil. He also enjoyed sitting down in his comfy recliner with his trusty remote in hand when one of his favorite westerns were on, or if his beloved Hawkeyes or Bulls were playing. His faith was also very important to Cecil as he was a long-time member of St. Raphael’s Cathedral and continued to participate in weekly communion even though he hasn’t been able to physically attend church for some time now. Thankfully, all of these pleasant memories, and so many more, still remain for us to find comfort in after the sudden loss of our dear Cecil. Our hearts are heavy, but we know we’ll find peace through faith and time, we trust Cecil is being joyfully reunited with his beloved Marilyn once again, and we discover true comfort in the realization that he’ll have an entirely new collection of wonderful tales to share with us all when we finally join him again. May God continue to bless you Cecil, and thank you for all of the love you shared with the world while you were visiting.

Those left to cherish Cecil’s memory include

his children,
Timothy (Nancy) Duffy,
Steven Duffy,
Molly (fiancé Dennis Bradley) Behnke
and Amy Peacock, all of Dubuque, IA;

his 8 grandchildren;

his 14 great-grandchildren;

and his sister,
Dolores Morley, Dubuque, IA.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn Duffy; a daughter, Kathy Duffy; his siblings, Leo Duffy, Boniface (Ann) Duffy, Laticia (Harold) Hartman, Donna (Don) Smock, Marlene (Sonny) Hubbard, Margie (Bud) McMahon, Jean (Harold) Schuster; and a brother-in-law, Eugene Morley.

A Cecil A. Duffy memorial fund has been established, which will be distributed among his favorite charities.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Finley Hospital for all of their professional care and concern.

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