Irwin J. Behr

FROMMELT, BEHR, HEIN, WEITZPULS, PARK, SPAHN

Posted By: J. Nicks (email)
Date: 2/22/2005 at 08:57:41

Feb 21, 2005 Telegraph Herald

Irwin J. Behr

Irwin J. "Irv" Behr, 84, of 2156 Sunnyslope Drive, died at 4:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 2001 St. Joseph St. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery at a later date, where military rites will be accorded. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the church, where there will be a parish wake service at 3 p.m. Friends also may call from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St.

He was born on July 4, 1920, in Sherrill, Iowa, son of Joseph J. and Clara (Frommelt) Behr. He married Lorraine Hein on Sept. 21, 1944, at Nativity Catholic Church, Dubuque.

Irv served in the Army during World War II and was stationed at Pearl Harbor.

He worked with his father, J.J. Behr, in the General Store in Sherrill, which was the oldest implement dealer in Iowa. After the war, J.J. Behr Implement Co., which later was Behr Farm and City, moved to Dubuque, and Irv worked there from 1947 to 1992 with his father and son, Rich.

Irv was a well-known band leader in the Dubuque area. He had his first band at the age of 16, and his last band was Irv Behr and the Rhythm Boys.

Irv was the past president of the Musicians Union Local 289. He also was past president of the Hawkeye Motorcycle Club. Irv was a member of the Businessmen's Association, the Dubuque Home Builders Association and was a life member of the Knights of Columbus Council 510. He also was a member of the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6 and was one of the original members of the Dubuque County Fair Board.

Irv loved life and lived it to the fullest. He always had a story to tell and loved a good game of cards. His greatest joy was to be with his family and friends. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very special to him.

Surviving are his wife, Lorraine Behr; a daughter, Mary Jo (Dick) Weitz, of Dubuque; two sons, Steven R. Behr and Richard J. (Paula) Behr, both of Dubuque; a son-in-law, Bob (Mary) Park, of Dubuque; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister, Florence (Al) Puls, of Dubuque; a sister-in-law, Nancy Ann Behr, of Pewaukee, Wis.; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Pamela A. Park; a daughter-in-law, Dianne Behr; a sister, Mildred Spahn; and two brothers, Melvin Behr, in infancy, and Joseph Behr.