Roger W. Bahl 1939-2013

BAHL, LUTHE, PAPE, MANEMANN, GEHRKE, STROHMEYER, FREIBURGER, STOWERS

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 10/2/2015 at 19:14:23

Roger W. Bahl, 73, of 121 Summer Drive, passed away peacefully, without pain, at 4:59 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at home surrounded by his family and friends.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at St. Columbkille's Church, 1240 Rush St., with the Rev. Brian M. Dellaert officiating. Entombment will be in Mount Calvary Mausoleum, where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Dubuque Post 6. To celebrate Roger's life, friends may visit from

2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be a parish wake service at 2 p.m.

He was born on June 20, 1939, in Rickardsville, Iowa, son of Alfred J. and Mary (Luthe) Bahl. He married the love of his life, Mary Kay Pape, on May 26, 1962.

Roger served with the Army in Korea during the Vietnam War as a vehicle mechanic SP5, 1st Calvary.

He enjoyed his 40-year career at Flexsteel Industries, where he was the self-proclaimed "chair-man."

As a faithful member of St. Mary's Parish until its closure, he gave his time and talent in scouting and various school board offices.

Roger enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing and gardening, but, most of all, his "piece of heaven on earth," the cottage. One of his greatest pleasures was time spent with Mary Kay, his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter.

Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Mary Kay Bahl, of Dubuque; his children, Roger P. (Jennifer Bechen) Bahl, Ginny (Dale) Manemann, Jamie (Theresa Valentine) Bahl, Sandra Bahl and Jody (Jeff) Unsen; his grandchildren, Jesse, Rebecca, Josephine, Michelle, Chase, Alexandra, Jessalyn, Matthew, Joseph, Abbigail and Lucas; his great-granddaughter, Aubrie; a brother, Alfred G. (Dianna) Bahl; a sister, Jeanann Gehrke and his in-laws, Pat Gatena, Whitey and Lynn Pape, Nancy and Dr. Gary Strohmeyer, Diane and Mike Freiburger and Betty and Mark Stowers.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Jeffery; his grandsons, Shane and Seth Manemann; his stepfather, Sarge Baker; and his in-laws, Donald and Ruth Pape, Ruben Gehrke, Donnie and Janeen Pape.

A Roger W. Bahl Memorial Fund has been established.

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

During his three years battling cancer, the smile on Roger's face was put there by his medical team - The Finley Hospital nurses and respiratory staff, the loving radiation group at the Wendt Center, the oncology family at DIM, the caring staff at Hospice of Dubuque and the doctors who fought for him every step of the way, Dr. Tom Benda, Dr. Mark Hermann, Dr. Ron Schope and Dr. Steven Haas. A special thank-you to his "private" nurse consultants, Diane Freiburger and Dianna Bahl, and to all his family and friends who offered emotional, physical and spiritual support. "See you Christmas Eve."

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Tuesday, January 8, 2013