Thomas F. Oeth
July 31, 2015Share using:
Thomas F. Oeth, 77, of Dubuque, passed away Friday, July 31, 2015, at home, surrounded by his family.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at Nativity Church, 1225 Alta Vista, with Monsignor James Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 4 at Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, where there will be a parish wake service at 3:00pm. Friends may also call from 9:30 a.m. until time of service on Wednesday, August 5 at Nativity where the rosary will be recited at 10:15.
Thomas was born September 7, 1937, in Dubuque son of Irvin A. and Lucille (Kelly) Oeth. Tom and Carlyn Dunne were married September 28th, 1963 at Nativity Church. Tom attended St. Columbkille’s grade school and Loras Academy in Dubuque. He graduated with a degree in Food Technology from Texas A&M and received his Masters degree in food science from the University of Wisconsin.
Tom enjoyed his many years in the meat packing industry, from his start at the Dubuque Packing Company in 1954 through its many years of change to his recent technical consulting for Farmland Foods.
Tom enjoyed time spent with friends and family. Tom was always up for a card game; whether it was the duplicate bridge group he has played with since his early Pack days, meeting the guys at Happy’s for euchre, or many games played with family. Tom enjoyed the outdoors, including his yearly snowmobile trips to Wyoming, fishing and canoe trips, bike rides and many long walks.
Tom was a loyal friend, husband, father and grandfather. He could be counted on to have a positive outlook, lend a helping hand, bring humor to a situation, and share his secret seasoning.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 51 years, Carlyn, children; Julie (Tim) Fetzer of Key West, IA, Carol (John) Caldwell of Loveland, OH, David (Maura) Oeth of Naperville, IL. Tom and Carlyn have 7 grandchildren; Nicholas, Matthew, and Lauren Fetzer, Mason Caldwell, Meghan, Delaney, and Quinn Oeth, sisters; Millie Clarkson of Naples, FL, and Patti (Mike) Carr and stepmother, Annetta Oeth of Dubuque, and many brother and sister-in-laws.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and Irvin Oeth, brother Edward, and special Aunt Vera Kelly.
The family would like to thank the care staff at Dubuque Internal Medicine, Hospice of Dubuque, and the many family and friends who have given prayers and support.
