John J. Deckert 1925-2013

DECKERT, FRIEDRICH, THILTGEN, THEOBOLD

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 9/20/2015 at 20:56:53

John J. Deckert, 87, formerly of 2206 Shiras Ave., died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013, at Dubuque Retirement Community surrounded by his family. He is now reunited with his beloved wife, Helen.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church, with the Rev. Dwayne Thoman officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at the Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m.

John was born Dec. 1, 1925, in Dubuque, son of John P. and Virginia (Friedrich) Deckert. He graduated from Loras Academy and attended Loras College.

During World War II, John served with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific on the USS Belleau Wood aircraft carrier. On Nov. 24, 1951, he married Helen Kennedy at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Farley, Iowa; she preceded him in death on March 13, 2006. John was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a big heart. He will be forever missed by the many lives he touched.

John as a proud member of the City of Dubuque Fire Department for 30 years, retiring as a captain in 1988.

He was a longtime catcher with the Dubuque Star Brewery semi-pro baseball team and in 1993 was inducted into the Dubuque County Baseball Hall of Fame. He enjoyed spending Friday lunches at Breezy's Cafe with his lifelong friends.

He was a 50-year member of Holy Trinity Parish, longtime member of the parish council, and for many years served as chairman of the parish fall festival.

John was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer. One of his many joys was traveling around the country with his family. In later years, he especially enjoyed traveling to Agate Lake, Minn., with Helen, their children and spouses, and grandchildren.

John is survived by four children, John T. (Ilene) Deckert, of DeWitt, Iowa, Jim (Julie) Deckert, of Dubuque, Thomas (Judi) Deckert, of Davenport, Iowa, and Susan (Steve) Thiltgen, of Dubuque; and eight grandchildren, Mark, Lyndsay, John P., Jim Jr., Jodi, Nick, Daniel and Joe; a sister-in-law, Irene (John) Theobold of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Henry Deckert.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Dubuque.

Online condolences may be submitted at www. egelhofsiegertcasper.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at Dubuque Retirement Community for their loving care and friendship and the staff at Hospice of Dubuque, especially Kelly and Anji, for their kindness and compassion. The family will be forever grateful. The family also would like to thank the many nieces and nephews whose visits and humor he treasured over the years.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, November 17, 2013