Paul F. Gavin

Paul F. Gavin, 71, of Dubuque, passed away at home on July 1, 2018.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 6th, 2018 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road with Deacon Bill Biver officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery with full military honors by American Legion Post #6. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 5th, 2018 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale and also after 10:00 a.m. Friday until time of service.

Paul was born on June 28, 1947. He graduated from Wahlert High School in 1965 and attended Loras College, graduating with a degree in Business. He married his high school sweetheart, Linda Glab, on March 7, 1970.

Paul served in the U.S. Army from 1969-1971, stationed for 13 months in Korea. He received his Master’s Degree in Education from UW Platteville and was a Guidance Counselor at Dubuque Senior High School, where he impacted thousands of students lives through his hard work and tireless devotion for over 25 years. He also enjoyed his “retirement” as an Admissions Counselor at Clarke College.

In his younger years, Paul enjoyed playing basketball and riding his motorcycle. Throughout his life, he was an avid gardener and never needed a reason to bring his wife flowers. Paul was a very supportive and involved father who encouraged his children’s passions. He spent endless hours and weekends taking his family camping and watching his children play sports or act in plays. Recently, the family celebrated a vacation together in Hawaii.

In recent years, golfing with his friends became one of Paul’s favorite activities, and he traveled all around Iowa to hit a course. He enjoyed Indy car racing and looked forward to his Thursday nights at “Church” with the guys. Paul was a regular volunteer at the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, where he gave guided tours through the gardens and occasionally helped in the gift shop with his wife. Paul loved music and enjoyed numerous concerts over the years; he was always jamming out to the classics.

His three grandkids, Zach, Ellie and Luke, were more important to him than anything. He loved nothing more than to talk with them, watch their activities, read to them at school, babysit them, and entertain them with his one of a kind sense of humor. To know Paul was to know that he was always good for a laugh, a joke, or an unbeatable one liner. He was a wonderful friend, husband and Dad. He will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.

He is survived by his wife Linda; daughters, Emily Gavin, and Molly (Shawn) Hancock; his son Ryan Gavin (Katie McLaughlin); grandchildren Zach, Ellie, and Luke Hancock; sister Judy (Tom) Reilly; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Rita Gavin; a sister Joanne (Jim) Rogan; and mother and father-in-law Katharyn and Edwin Glab.

In lieu of flowers, memorials received will go towards planting a tree at the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and to the Asbury Fire Department.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.