Joseph R. “Joe” Schlarman Sr., age 85, of Dubuque, was called home peacefully at 11:58 a.m., on Sunday, December 2, 2018, at home. To honor Joe’s life, funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, December 10, 2018, at Behr Funeral Home, with Deacon John Stierman officiating. To celebrate Joe’s life, family and friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., on Sunday, December 9, 2018, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street.

Joe was born on December 11, 1932, in rural Dyersville, Iowa, son of Joseph and Josephine (Jaeger) Schlarmann.

Joe was born in Dyersville, and sadly found himself parentless at age 11, he was however fortunate enough to be raised by several relatives throughout the years. He was raised with an exemplary work ethic, and at age 16, became a loyal employee of the Dubuque Packing Company, even walking to work in the winter time when the roads were too icy, for 35 years until they closed in 1982. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Madeline Miller, September 14, 1957, at St. John the Baptist Church in Peosta, Iowa, and the two were blessed with 61 years together and 3 adored children. After the packing house closed up shop, Joe and Madi turned their passion for restoring and saving some of Dubuque’s Architectural Treasures into Joe’s new career, no job was too hard or too dirty for Joe to tackle, and they were extremely proud of giving new life to the Captain Merry House, 1599 Bluff Street and 1020 Bluff Street. Joe was a family man, through and through, and he and Madi wanted to make sure that the children grew up with an appreciation of the beautiful world they lived in. It was through their love of camping that they were able to instill a love of nature in all of the children. Joe was always very active with the Boy Scouts for over 35 years with Troop 45. In his younger years, Joe enjoyed outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing, but also was a phenomenal roller skater, at one point even being recruited by the Bay City Bombers. We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of our wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, but are grateful for all of the memories and the life lessons he has taught us during his 85 years here with us.

Those left to cherish Joe’s memory include

his loving wife,
Madeline “Madi” Schlarman, Dubuque, IA;

his 3 children,
Julie Schlarman, Albuquerque, NM,
Joseph R. “Guy” (Ruth) Schlarman Jr., Eureka, MT
and Douglas (Michelle) Schlarman, Allen, TX;

his 4 grandchildren,
Stephen Douglas Schlarman, Ian Joseph Schlarman, Joseph Schlarman and Madeline Schlarman;

and a sister,
Anna Mae (Loras) Kieffer, Dubuque, IA.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Rose Schlarmann in infancy, Delores Duetmeyer, Louis Schlarmann, Clarence Schlarmann, Jerome Schlarmann, Cletus Schlarmann and Robert Schlarmann.

Memorials will be accepted by the family to be distributed among Joe’s favorite charities.

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