Alois Henry Wolter

Alois H. Wolter, 94, of Dubuque, Iowa, was reunited with his wife, Olive "Buzzy", in Heaven on August 26, 2025, at Mill Valley Care Center in Bellevue, Iowa.

Friends and family may visit from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, with a Wake Service starting at 3:45 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Dubuque with Rev. Andy Upah officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the Bellevue American Legion Post #273. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A livestream of the funeral mass will be on the funeral home Facebook page.

Al wrote his own obituary, plus some updated notes. Putting the notes together and adding the updates, we honor the words he chose describing his life.

He was born on June 9, 1931, at North Buena Vista, Iowa, son of Harold and Barbara (Junk) Wolter. He married Buzz Keller on December 7, 1951, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dubuque.

He loved to hunt small game and deer and liked fishing and boating. April and May were the months he hunted morel mushrooms. Thirty to forty pounds a day-an extraordinary day for most-but was nothing for Al.

He and his wife, Buzz, spent winters down South: Arizona one year, Florida two years, and San Benito, Texas, twenty plus years. He loved shuffleboard. The Texas State Shuffleboard Association classified him as an expert, winning trophies and medals.

For a pastime, he cro-knitted. He made over 170 afghans for family and friends.

He had thirteen ponies at one time for riding and driving. He had two wagons and two sulkies, and he drove them in parades . His children and grandchildren enjoyed riding them.

He was a member of the St. Catherine's Parish for over fifty years, a Trustee of the cemetery for fifty plus years. He started the Avenue of Flags in 1986 and dug graves for 47 years.

He retired from Dubuque Packing Company in 1983 after thirty-one years. He farmed for twenty-seven years and always had a big garden.

He is a veteran from the United States Air Force serving during the Korean Era.

Al is survived by his daughters, Terry (Ron) Sheedy, Tracey (Mark) Hueneke, Trudy (Jeff) Theisen, Tammy (Don) Zimmer; sons, Tim (Jill) Wolter and Toby (Nicole) Wolter; 18 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two bonus grandchildren; seven great bonus grandchildren; five great great bonus grandchildren; siblings, Harry (Sharon) Wolter, RuthAnn (Jerry) Burger, and Barbara Jean Tuthill; in-laws, Janet Wolter, Rosemary Wolter, Barb Wolter, Karen Wolter, Helen Gourley, John (Marilyn) Keller, and Joan Lester Keller.

Alois was preceded in death by his wife, Olive "Buzzy" Wolter; his son Thomas Wolter; his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Oliver "OJ" and Iris Keller; siblings, Rosemary (Earl) Fagen, Lavern Wolter, Loren Wolter, Duane Wolter, and Denny Wolter; in-laws, Tom Tuthill, Dorothy (Mickey) Marty, Dolores "Toots" (Don) Jungblut, Ruth (Ed) Neyens, Oliver "Wimpy" Keller, Doris "Cookie" (Ron) Kuehn, Don Gourley, and Peter (Carol) Keller.

Our family wrote a much more expanded obituary, but in keeping with his simple direct style, we are brief in our closing thoughts.

Al Wolter would say,"If you want something done, ask a busy man." He was a doer; he got things done. He forgot to mention, he was one of the founding fathers of the Key West Sportsmen's Club. He taught shuffleboard lessons so others could enjoy it. He gave away morels, garden produce, and in general shared his talents. His obituary did not show his deeply emotional side: how much he cherished family, how much he loved Buzzy, how he loved his parish community and how he felt about his second family of friends in Texas. There is much we could say, but his last note said he wanted a "smile on my face" and that will be enough said. We believe our parents are happily reunited.

The family is deeply grateful for the support of family, friends, and community.

A special thank you to Mill Valley Care Center and Jackson County Hospice for the comfort and care given to our Dad in his final days. Memorials may be made to St. Catherine's Avenue of Flags or according to family wishes.