Avril Jean (Davis) Humke

HUMKE, ESSER, ZANTOW, WILLIAMS, POWERS, DAVIS, MEYER, APPEL

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/3/2016 at 23:26:47

Avril Jean Humke, 90, of Dubuque, formerly of Alverno Apartments, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center-Dubuuqe, with family members at her bedside.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where friends may call after 4 p.m. A family graveside service will be held at a later date.

Avril was born on Dec. 23, 1923, in Detroit. She married Robert T. Humke on June 12, 1943.

Avril worked in Dubuque at Neumode Hosiery, Star Uniform, Zayres, Venture and Target, as well as a cook at Stonehill Care Center.

First and foremost, Avril was a caretaker of all, giving what little she had to share with others. She was a fabulous cook, making mouthwatering soups, scrumptious cookies and Texas sheet cake. She was a meticulous crafter - designing treasured beaded ornaments and beautiful embroidery work. After suffering a stroke in 2004, Avril lived with her daughter, Patty, and son-in-law, Jim, who have cared for her the past 10 years.

She was the mother of eight children, survivors include, Brenda (Gary) Esser, of Sarasota, Fla., Bob (Donna) of La Motte, Iowa, Charmaine Zantow, of Albuquerque, N.M., Dennis, of La Motte, Renee (Gary) Williams and Patty (Jim) Powers, of Dubuque. She was a wonderful grandmother to Jim (Angela), Dean, Tim (Lili), Angie (Mat), Courtney, Jeremy, Jason (Amy), Jessica, Christy, Melissa (Jeff), Crystal, Allie and Cayden; and great-grandmother to Morgan, Grace, Lyla, Alex, Nico, Daniella, Kate, Zoe, Emily, Peyton, Ashton and Stella. Also left to honor her is her brother the Rev. Keith Davis, of Indiana, and "Sis" Vilroye Meyer, of Monroe, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Elnova Davis, of Indiana, and Darlene Davis, of Michigan, and Lorraine Humke, of Dubuque; and brother-in-law, Jim (Marilyn) Humke, of Newton, Iowa.

Avril was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Humke; two children, James Humke and Deborah Appel; her brothers, Guy, Jack and the Rev. Ray Davis.

In lieu of flowers, an Avril J. Humke Memorial Fund has been established.

The family is deeply grateful to Sue Kammerude for her loving respite care and friendship of Avril. Also, a special thanks to Mercy Home Care nurse Marilyn Heinisch, the Mercy Medical Center Staff and Dr. C. Stille for their compassionate care over the years.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, March 9, 2014