Behr Funeral Home

Arnieta M. "Neat" Erickson age 92, of Dubuque, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Stonehill Health Center surrounded by her loving family. To celebrate Neat's life, family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish scripture wake service held at 3:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at St. Raphael Cathedral, 231 Bluff Street. Entombment will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Mausoleum. Neat was born on February 24, 1933, in Rickardsville, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Weidemann) Schmitt. Neat married the love of her...

Robert (Bob) Gerald Heinz, 93, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Luther Manor in Dubuque surrounded by his family. A memorial service for Bob will be held at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, Dubuque on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., with a service at 10:30 a.m., with Deacon Jim Luksetich officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League. Bob was born in Dubuque on June 9, 1932, to Bernard and Veronica (Spiegel) Heinz. As an only child, Bob enjoyed the attention of his parents, his dog Rusty, and the camaraderie of his close friends, many cousins,...

JoAnn Lillian Ayers, 89, of Dubuque, died peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Stonehill Care Center. She spent a beautiful Christmas Eve there with family gathered around sharing stories and memories and getting hugs from each one in attendance. Private family services were held Tuesday at Behr Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. She was born on June 25, 1936, in Dubuque, Iowa, daughter of LeRoy John Feyen and Myrtle Josephine (Pfohl) Feyen. She married Jack "Jackie" LeRoy Ayers on April 16, 1955, at St. Mary's Church in Dubuque. She attended her beloved St. Mary's grade school, Immaculate Conception Academy and Senior High School in Dubuque. JoAnn worked many...

Aurelia J. "Rae" Ewers, age 81, of Dubuque, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2025, at MercyOne Dubuque. To celebrate Aurelia's life, family and friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Ghost Church, 2921 Central Avenue. Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday at Holy Ghost Church with Rev. Jeffrey Frieden officiating. Behr Funeral Home is assisting Aurelia's family. Aurelia was born on January 1, 1944, in Keokuk, Iowa, the daughter of Leo and Doris (Howell) Neyens. Rae was raised in Keokuk where she graduated from Cardinal Stritch High School. She went on to attend...

Sister Mary Ellen Zimmermann, BVM, (Ellenmae), 93, of Mount Carmel Bluffs, Dubuque, Iowa, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. Visitation will be from 9-9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in the Mary Frances Clarke Chapel. Sharing of Memories will be at 9:30 a.m., followed immediately by the Rite of Christian Burial. Burial is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery. Sister Mary Ellen served as associate administrator of Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was an elementary teacher in Illinois at Annunciation, Chicago; St. Peter, Antioch; and Lake Shore Catholic Academy, Mundelein; in Missouri at St. Catherine, Kansas City.; and in California at St. Bernard, Los Angeles; Holy Family, Glendale; and St. Anne,...

Karen L. Dillon, age 83, of Dubuque and formerly of East Dubuque, passed away on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Stonehill Health Center. To celebrate Karen's life, family and friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at St. Raphael Cathedral, 231 Bluff Street, with Rev. Dennis J. Quint officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Karen was born on August 24, 1942, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of George and Frances (Junk) Sear. Karen graduated from Nativity Grade School and the Academy of the Visitation. While she was in...

Cathy Jo (Finn) Copeland was born May 4, 1961 to Pat and Mourine "Rene" (Link) Finn. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family members on November 3, 2025 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. There will be a private family burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street is assisting Cathy's family. Cathy attended Holy Ghost, Hempstead and Central High Schools. She was united in marriage to Dennis Copeland on December 22, 1979 and they raised two children together. They lived in Addison, IL, Greensboro NC, Mountain Top, PA and Massillon, OH before moving back to Dubuque to be closer to family when Cathy's health started to decline. Cathy and Dennis were...

Marilynn Kay Simpson (Marilynn Blake), age 81, of Independence, Missouri, passed away on October 31, 2025, after a period of declining health. She was born on January 22, 1944, in Calamus, Iowa, the daughter of Leonard Sr. and Hazel (Macomber) Chase. Marilynn was raised and schooled in the Calamus area. She married at age 18 and four years later became a devoted mother to the first of her five children. Marilynn's greatest joy and vocation was being a wife, mother, and homemaker, and she took immense pride in her family. Marilynn loved being social. She was an avid dancer and loved listening to country and gospel music. A true nature lover, Marilynn had a passion for cultivating her flower...

Erma D. Nauman, age 96, of Sherrill, entered the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, October 20, 2025, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. To celebrate Erma's life, family and friends may visit from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, October 27, 2025, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Sherrill. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Erma was born on December 27, 1928, into the loving arms of her parents, Charles and Anna (Voss) Nauman of Sherrill, Iowa. She was raised to appreciate the values of love and respect for family and friends; along with...