John M. Denlinger, 80, of Dubuque, Iowa, formerly of Balltown, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Stonehill Health Center after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease, with his son Steve by his side.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a wake service will be held at 2:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 4th, 2024, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Ghost Church with Fr. Steve Garner officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

John was born on April 20, 1943, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Carlyn and Marie (Gansen) Denlinger. He graduated from Wahlert High School where he met the love of his life, Ruth Ann Rolwes of Balltown, Iowa and they became Wahlert High School sweethearts. He married Ruth on June 30, 1964.

Together they farmed on the Rolwes family farm in Balltown for over 50 years along with their son Steve. John was a long-time member of Saint Francis Church Balltown before joining Holy Ghost Church in Dubuque in 1996. He was also very dedicated to the Balltown Lions Club where he received several awards of recognition for his service. In 1975, John was awarded Dubuque County Outstanding Pork Producer of the Year followed by the Iowa Master Pork Producer Award in 1976, as well as the Dubuque County Cattlemen Hall of Fame in 2006.

John was a very hard-working individual but still found time to go on evening river excursions with his good friends from Waupeton, Balltown and around the area. He was loved and respected and will be sadly missed by all.

John is survived by his son Steve Denlinger of Balltown, son-in-law Jim Kauffmann of Dubuque, daughter-in-law Sandy Denlinger of Holy Cross, grandchildren Jason and Alex Kauffmann, Nicole (Michael) Colson and Kelli (Halston Southwick) Denlinger, two great grandchildren Grayson and Landon Colson, siblings Marilyn Bergfeld, LouAnn Weber, and Gladys Wernimont, brother-in-law Gib Clemen, as well as many nieces and nephews, and special friends Shirley Koltes.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ruth Ann on July 29, 2016, daughter Linda Kauffmann on July 26, 2010, and son Dale Denlinger on October 5, 2017, brother Clair Denlinger, sister Carol Clemen, brothers-in-law Ralph Bergfeld, Milton Weber, Charlie Wernimont, Bernard Riniker, Ray Tigges, and sisters-in-law Rita Mae Riniker and Rosemary Tigges.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Stonehill Health Center for their outstanding professional services and care given to John.