Delores H. Fleege (1932-2019)

FLEEGE, HENSE, GATENA

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/7/2019 at 15:36:44

Delores H. (Gatena) Fleege, age 87, of Dubuque, Iowa, was called home peacefully at 4:48 p.m., on August 5, 2019, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. To honor Delores' life, funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, August 12, 2019, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church, 1701 Rhomberg Avenue, with Rev. Mark Kwenin officiating. To celebrate Delores' life, family and friends may visit from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., on Sunday, August 11, 2019, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish scripture service held at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Delores was born on June 30, 1932, in Dubuque, daughter of Alfred and Eleanor (Hense) Gatena.

Delores was united in marriage to the love of her life, Donald Fleege, on August 23, 1952 at St. Mary's Church and they were blessed with 56 years and 8 children together, before he was sadly called home ahead of her on July 11, 2009. After they married, Delores happily settled into her role as a devoted full time wife, mother and homemaker. She was a kind hearted person whose faith was extremely important to her, as evidenced by her long time memberships with St. Mary's Church and then Holy Trinity Church, as well as her mission volunteer work. She also enjoyed making rosaries to give to family and friends. Beyond a doubt, Delores' family was always her main priority and pride and joy. She enjoyed playing games with the kids and grandkids, or spending the day outside fishing. She had a great love of wild birds and was affectionately, known as a "bird whisperer" to her family. Throughout the years Delores helped rescue countless baby birds, caring for them and feeding them until they were strong enough to go off on their own. She also had a great appreciation of all kinds of music, from Hawaiian music to Patsy Cline, and had the stacks of LPs to prove it. We are deeply saddened at losing Delores from our daily lives, we will miss her more than words can say and cherish all of the memories we have made throughout the years.

Those left to cherish Delores' memory include

her 6 children,
Donald (Sue) Fleege, Cedar Rapids, IA,
Darlene (Mike) Rogers, Waxahachie, TX,
Dennis (Diane) Fleege, Cedar Rapids, IA,
Dan (Vicki) Fleege, Dubuque, IA,
Debbie (Gene) Gillies, Dubuque, IA
and Dawn (Todd) Herring, Dubuque, IA;

her 16 grandchildren;

her 40 great-grandchildren;

and her 3 siblings,
Bud (Judy) Gatena,
Bob Gatena
and Jim (Jeanie) Gatena, all of Dubuque, IA.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Donald; 2 children in infancy, Diane and Donna Fleege; and a granddaughter in infancy, Trisha Rogers.

Delores' family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff of Finley Hospital, especially the 5th floor, for all of their kind, compassionate and professional care of Delores and her family.

Memorials will be accepted by the family to be distributed among her favorite charities.

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

Dubuque Telegraph Herald, August 7, 2019