Cade D. McGovern

Cade David McGovern, 8, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on November 10th, 2023 at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital surrounded by loving family.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a parish wake service will be held at 2:45 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16th, at the Church of the Resurrection with Father Phil Gibbs officiating. Burial will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Centralia.  

Cade was born on October 4th, 2015, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Ryan and Erin (Boxleiter) McGovern and brother of Chase McGovern.  Cade entered this world on his own terms and has lived that way every day since.

Cade brought so much joy to his family and friends through his smiles, giggles, and endless cuddles.  Some of Cade’s favorite things were snuggling with his grandparents, swimming, giraffes, traveling with family and being anywhere with his older brother Chase.  Their bond was indescribable, and they were the best of friends.  He was fortunate to spend time every week with his loving grandparents and they took incredible care of him.

Cade’s life was short, but it was full.  For every adventure he took us on, we tried to do the same for him.  He dipped his toes in the Atlantic, Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, sailed across the Caribbean, his Make-A-Wish trip to San Diego allowed him to pet a sea lion, a koala, and be kissed by a dolphin, he and Chase threw out the first pitch at the Field of Dreams, he spent a day with the Iowa Hawkeye football team and throughout the years spent countless hours floating in the lazy river in Wisconsin Dells. 

Cade was born facing insurmountable odds and defied the expectations time and time again.  He continuously showed his strength and perseverance as he fought through many illnesses and surgeries in the past eight years.  Throughout all of this, he taught us lessons of love, understanding and compassion. He was truly our miracle, and we are grateful for the time we spent with him.

Cade, our hearts are broken and we will miss you so much, but we take comfort in knowing you’re no longer in pain, your body is free to run, jump and play.  We hope you’re eating all the cupcakes and ice cream you wish and until we meet again, watch over us and fly high little man!

Cade is survived by his parents, Ryan and Erin (Boxleiter) McGovern, the most incredible older brother Chase, grandparents Dave and Sherry (Anthony) Boxleiter, Donald and Julie (Tangeman) McGovern, aunts and uncles Aimee (Tim) Schmidt, Kevin (Jenna Eason) McGovern, cousin Henry Schmidt, many extended relatives and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his great uncles Jim Clemenson and Steve Golinvaux.

A special thank you to the dedicated doctors and nurses at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital for their exceptional care of Cade over the past eight years, especially Sheila Frascht, Karen Johnson, Kayla Tate, Tucker, and Dr. Shilpa Balikai for her compassion for Cade and our family in  Cade’s final days.

A heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Medical Associates Pediatric department, especially Dr. Kevin Mullen, Dr. Tom Callahan and Dr. John Callahan.  Your care, support and friendship throughout Cade’s life has been so important in ensuring we could give Cade the life we wanted to.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s hospital or a children’s charity of your choice.

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