Hueneke, Phillip R.

Phillip R. Hueneke, 59, of Bellevue, died Sunday, April 24, 2011, at home with his family.

Phil was born Nov. 4, 1951, to Richard and Elaine (Rupp) Hueneke of St. Donatus, Iowa. He was baptized on Nov. 25, 1951.

A public visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at The Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd., Dubuque. A private family funeral service will be held Thursday at Harmony United Church in Zwingle, Iowa, burial will follow at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, south of St. Donatus.

Phil attended country school through the fifth grade and graduated from Bellevue Community School. He attended Kirkwood Community College with a degree in Production Agriculture. On August 12, 1977, he married Barbara A. Westphal.

Phil was an active member of the community as a farmer, a volunteer for the Lutheran Brotherhood, an ABS representative, a Wyffels Seed Corn and an Agri-King salesman and a 4-H leader. Phil and Barbara farmed and raised Shorthorns, near St. Donatus; in 1985, they formed Gateway Natural Meats, a food distribution and marketing company. Through his business, Phil touched many lives through his dedication to supporting local business and by the generosity he showed his customers and their families.

Most importantly, he was a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend. Phil recently stated, “My greatest blessings have been my faith, my supportive wife and my three daughters. The Lord has blessed me with a very spiritual and fruitful life.”

As he leaves us with these words, he leaves on this earth his wife, Barbara; daughters, Laurie Hueneke (Jody) Martens, Jennifer (Brett) Shaw, Lisa Hueneke, and granddaughter, Evie Shaw.

He will be remembered by many friends and relatives including his three sisters, Linda Hueneke, Paula Moeller and Brenda Hueneke; brother, Keith Hueneke; his parents, Richard and Elaine Hueneke; his mother-in-law, Leona Westphal; two bothers-in-law, Leslie and Duane Westphal; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Belter.

A memorial fund in Phil's name has been set up.

Special thanks to Dr. Bybee and his nurses and Hospice of Jackson County.

Online condolences can be left for the family at leonardfuneralhome.com.