Beatrice M. Payne

Beatrice M. Payne, 89, of Dubuque, Iowa passed away on February 20th, 2018 at Hawkeye Care Center.

Funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 24th, 2018 at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Trinity Church with Rev. Andrew Awotwe-Mensa officiating. Burial will follow in Linwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 23rd, 2018 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a wake service will be at 7:00 p.m. Family and friends may also gather after 9:00 a.m. Saturday at the church until time of mass.

Bea was born on November 6, 1928 in Wisconsin the daughter of Virgil and Juanita (Alderman) McCollough. On October 17, 2003 she married John “Jerry” Payne at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

She retired from the Dubuque Packing Company after 28 years. After retirement Bea went to school to become a cake decorator. She specialized in wedding cakes and even made her own wedding cake.

Bea was a loving mother who raised her six children on her own. She was the rock of the family, and was an amazing grandmother and aunt.

Bea enjoyed playing cards, bowling, and attending the casino on Saturday’s with her son Ken and his wife Maureen.  She loved to travel, and she spent winters in Texas for the last 13 years. Her greatest trip experience was traveling to Ireland where she was able to Kiss the Blarney Stone.

She is survived by her husband Jerry; her children, Gloria Harrison, Kathryn Luher, David (Gayle) Erickson, and Daniel Erickson and her daughter-in-law Maureen Erickson all of Dubuque. Jerry’s children, Alice Pregler, Jim (Jenny) Payne, and Steve (Kathy) Payne. Five grandchildren, seven step grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and 4 step great grandchildren. Her siblings, Lyle (Jean) McCollough, Betty (Orville) Taylor, and Carol (Red) Auderer. Her brothers and sisters in laws, Tim (Myra) Payne, Ray (Colleen) Payne, Mary Johnson, Ann (Jack) Ginter, Ellen (Dave) Willis, Sheila (Larry) Blatz, Betty Payne and Karen Payne.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son Ken Erickson, two daughters Barbara Erickson and Sandra Kay Erickson; siblings, Jack McCollough, Larry McCollough, and Patricia McCollough; brothers-in-law Jack Payne, Billy Payne and sister-in-law Rita Ambrosy.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at Hawkeye Care Center , Hospice of Dubuque and to her doctor Sara Loetscher for all their wonderful care they gave to Bea.

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