Person:Thomas Casey (16)

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - December 30, 2007

Thomas Francis "Tom" Casey, 61, of 12141 English Mill Road, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at home, due to lung cancer and ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Services have been changed to 6 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where friends may call after 1 p.m. today. Military rites will be accorded at the funeral home by the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6. Mr. Casey worked for the former Dubuque Packing Co. from 1969 to 1982. He also worked as a supervisor at the former FDL Foods for Packers Sanitation from 1982 to 1987. He retired in 1987 due to a heart condition. He was born on Sept. 18, 1946, in Dubuque, son of Carl Sr. and Margaret (Barrett) Casey. He married Patricia "Pat" Helling on Dec. 26, 1966, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Dubuque. In August 1966, Tom entered the Army during the time of Vietnam. He was a Sergeant E5 when he was discharged in August 1972. He was a member of the Pope and Young Club, Boone and Crockett, Archery Big Bucks of Missouri, Catholic Knights, United Commercial Travelers, Local 150 Meat Cutters Union and AQHA. He enjoyed four-wheeling, fishing and riding horses with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed going to Cheyenne Frontier Days for rodeos. Tom was a record big game hunter, hunting only with the bow he made and taking many big bucks and a black bear. He loved hunting with his son, grandsons and many hunting buddies. Tom fought a courageous battle with lung cancer for 2½ years and a one-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease). Surviving are his wife of 41 years, Pat, of Dubuque; three children, Patrick Thomas (Deb) Casey, and his daughter, Jessica Lynn (Papa's favorite granddaughter), of Andover, Minn.; Shannon Marie (Tim) Quag-liano, and their sons, Payton Michael and Hunter Thomas, of Dubuque; and Michael O. (Molly) Casey, and their sons, Thomas O. and Timothy O., of Dubuque; a sister, Darlene (Don) Christ, of Dubuque; his in-laws, Jim (Joyce) Helling, Bob (Peg) Helling, Tom (Sherry) Helling, Vic "Gus" (Ann) Helling and Carol (Herb) Klinkhammer; two sisters-in-law, Diane (Carl) Oppelt and Mary Casey; 30 nieces and nephews, 57 great-nieces and nephews and three great-great-nieces; and his godsons, John Christ and Matt Helling, of Dubuque, and David Kraemer, of Fort Collins, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Sr. and Margaret Casey; two brothers, Robert "Bobby" and Carl Casey Jr.; a sister, Rose, in infancy; and his father and mother-in-law, Victor V. and Geraldine Helling. In lieu of flowers, a Tom Casey Memorial Fund has been established. Online condolences may be sent to info@egelhofsiegertcasper.com. The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to Medical Associates Oncology Department and to Hospice of Dubuque.