John O. Arling, 85, of Dubuque, IA, and formerly of Dickeyville, WI, passed away following a sudden illness at 10:45 A/M, Friday, April 13, 2013, at home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 P/M, Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Dickeyville, WI, with Rev. Bernard Rott and Rev. Francis Steffen officiating. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery, where full military honors will be accorded.

Friends may call from 3 P/M to 8 P/M, Monday, April 15, 2013, at the Miller Funeral Home, East Dubuque, IL, where the parish prayer service will be at 7:30 P/M. Friends may also call from 12:30 P/M to 1:30 P/M, on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at the funeral home.

John was born on December 26, 1927, at St. Louis, MO, the son of Martin and Eleanor (Mense) Arling.

John was a veteran of the U. S. Navy serving during World War II. John was employed at the former Dubuque Packing Company, later known as FDL Foods, for over 45 years. He was a member of Meatcutter's Local #150-A.

John married Catherine "Topsie" Stohlmeyer on May 23, 1953, at St. Andrew's Church, Tennyson, WI. She preceded him in death on September 14, 1994. He later married Thelma (Fleege) Schlueter on October 23, 1998 at Holy Ghost Church, Dubuque.

John was a member of the Dickeyville-Paris Fire Department and Kueper's Bar Bowling team, both for 40+years, a member of Holy Spirit Parish (Holy Ghost Church), Dubuque, and a former member of Holy Ghost Parish, Dickeyville.

John loved golfing, and played cards every week at "The Barge", especially poker. John enjoyed the yearly neighborhood vacations to Woodruff, WI, with his family and the neighbors.

Surviving are his wife, Thelma; a son, David (Gail) Arling; a daughter, Deb (John) "Gus" Lowery, both of Cuba City, WI; five grandchildren, Jeremy (Kim) Arling, Ryan Arling, Adam (Breanna) Arling, Nick (Jessica) Kruser, and Nicole (friend, Neil Kennet) Kruser; sixteen great-grandchildren; a step-daughter, Mary (Bob) Cahill, of Naperville, IL; a step-son, Daniel (Lynn) Schlueter, of Dubuque, IA; step-grandchildren, Meghan Cahill and Stephen Cahill; a brother, Dan (Carol) Arling, of Dubuque, IA.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Martin & Eleanor; a brother and sister-in-law, Martin (Eileen) Arling; a step-daughter, Karen Schlueter, and a step-son, Steven Schlueter.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com.