John R. Schwendinger, 66, of Dubuque died peacefully at home free of pain, on Saturday, August 30th, 2014 with his family by his side.

A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3rd, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church with Rev. Gabriel Anderson officiating. Entombment will be in St. Joseph Chapel Mausoleum, Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. There will be a parish wake and rosary service at 2:45 p.m.

John was born February 13, 1948, to Gerald and Rita (Jasper) Schwendinger. He grew up on a farm south of Farley and graduated from Western Dubuque High School.

He married Janet Helle on May 3, 1969 at St Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. Overcoming polio and guillain-barre when he was younger, no obstacle could stand in his way.

John was a master craftsman, working for many quality contractors in his early years, before starting his own carpenter construction business in 1974. Due to his passion for detail and honesty, he earned the respect of his customers, many of whom became his friends. John was a member of the Dubuque Homebuilders Association, the Iowa State Home Builders Association and a past member of the City of Dubuque Planning and Zoning Commission. John also took much pride in his hand carved leather work projects.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Janet, of Dubuque; three children, Lisa, of Dubuque, James (Pamela) of Dubuque, David (Sara) of Des Moines, and two grandchildren, Amanda and Emily Schwendinger of Dubuque. His surviving siblings are: Bill (Lois) Schwendinger, Elaine (Herb) Heid, Mary (Kevin) Klein, Pat (Julie) Schwendinger, Karen (Rick) Domeyer, and Don Schwendinger. Also surviving are his mother-in-law, Joan Helle, brothers and sisters-in-law: Sister Mary Ann Helle, O.S.F., Doris (Clair) Riesberg, Joanie (Tom) Tauke, LuAnn (Bob) Cigrand, Bob Helle, Ruth (Larry) Griffin, Marlene (Ambrose) Koopmann, Frank (Joann) Helle, Paul (Stella) Helle, LeRoy (Margie) Helle, Norma (Gerry) Kelchen, George (Connie) Helle,  Pearl (Harry) Kelchen, and many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and two brothers in infancy, his grandparents, and his father-in-law, George Helle Sr.

In lieu of flowers, a John Schwendinger Memorial fund has been established.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Brian Sullivan and his nurses, Dr. Christian Schulthies and his nurses, Dr.  John Dolehide, our social worker and all the special nurses at Hospice of Dubuque, and especially  for all family and friends for their support and expressions of love during John’s final journey.