John Norman Bingham, 92, of East Dubuque, IL, passed away Saturday morning, March 28, 2015, at Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque, IA, following a short illness, with family at his side.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A/M, on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at St. Mary's Church, East Dubuque, with Fr. Dean Smith officiating. Burial will be in the East Dubuque Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by members of American Legion Post #787.

To celebrate John's life, friends may call from 3 P/M to 7 P/M, on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at the Miller Funeral Home, in East Dubuque, where the parish rosary will be recited at 2:45 P/M. Members of American Legion Post #787 will meet at 6:30 P/M. Friends may also call from 9 A/M to 10 A/M, on Wednesday, at the funeral home.

John was born on January 22, 1923, in Galena, IL, the son of William and Ruth (Fiege) Bingham. He married Geraldine "Jerry" M. Elgin on Mary 17, 1947. Together they had five (5) children.

After graduating from Galena High School in 1940, prior to enlisting in the United States Navy, John worked at the Savanna Army Depot. He served during WW II from 1943-1945. John was an Aviation Ordiance Man, 2nd class combat air crewman, flying on patrol plances from the Phillipines over China. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with two (2) gold stars. While serving he was unaware of a high school senior in Long Beach, CA, who was praying for a man, named John, serving in a dangerous position in the Navy, as a school project. Upon returning to the Dubuque area following the war, he unknowingly met this young woman, Geraldine Elgin. He was again called to service in the Korean War, serving from 1951-1952. It was a great honor for John to be able to on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in September of 2011.

John worked at John Deere Dubuque Works for many years prior to retiring in 1986. He was a former member of Local #94 of the United Auto Workers, past commander and quarter-master of VFW Post #7976, and a member of American Legion Post #787 and Galena Elks Lodge #882.

John was an avid golfer, belonging to the Galena Golf Club for over fifty (50) years, where he had served as past-president.

Surviving are his children, John (Judi) Bingham, of Eagle River, WI, Joan (Jim) Willenbring, of Farley, IA, Judy Newcomer, of Dubuque, IA, Jeff (Kenna) Bingham, of East Dubuque, IL, and Janice (Kevin) Pellow, of Cottage Grove, MN; his nine (9) grandchildren, Terry Bingham, Tim (Jessica) Bingham, Amy (Scott) Meskimen, Sarah (Jayme) Mescher, Scott (Lisa) Willenbring, Ashley (Andrew) Dirksen, Cody Newcomer, Ryan and Kaitlin Pellow; and fifteen (15) great-grandchildren, Isaac and Egan Bingham, Cayden, Connor, Olivia and Owen Meskimen, Kacie, Madeline, Abigail and Alex Mescher, Tanis, Johnathan and Jacob Willenbring, Landon and Logan Dirksen; and two (2) sisters-in-law, Marilyn Bingham and Rosemary Schoen.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Geraldine, on May 5, 2014; brothers, William, Lloyd and Jerry; sister-in-law, Helen Bingham; and a son-in-law, Edgar Newcomer.

Again, we would like to "thank" Hospice of Dubuque, especially Megan, Lisa and Kristie, for their care and support!

May "The Good Guy" rest in peace!

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