Frederick "Buck" Taft

Frederick T. “Buck” Taft, Jr., 85 of Dubuque, Iowa passed away on June 10th, 2021, at Stonehill Care Center with family by his side.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 15th, 2021, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road where a memorial service with sharing time will be at 4:00 p.m. Entombment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Fred was born on November 11, 1935, in Dubuque, Iowa; the son of Frederick and LaVetta (Walsh) Taft Sr. He served in the US Naval Reserve and was an Army Parachutist. 

On August 16, 1957, he married the love of his life Donna Mae Hielscher in Libertyville, IL. He and Donna owned and operated Village Bar Supper Club in Kieler, WI for 7 years. Fred also worked and retired from the Dubuque Packing Company after 42 years.  

Buck was an avid Chicago Bear and Cubs fan; he enjoyed golfing, listening to music, John Wayne movies, playing the lottery and having a cold Miller High Life. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Donna; six children DeAnn Taft, of Green Bay, WI, Debra (Joseph) Frommelt, of Dubuque, IA, Dean Taft, of Dubuque, IA, Denise (Paul) Bertsch, of Dubuque, Dori (Michael) Taft, of Whitewright, TX, and Danny (Scheryl) Taft, of Potosi, WI. Fifteen grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson Michael A. Bennett, his sister Patricia Busch and a brother James Taft.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque for their care and compassion they gave to Fred.

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