Cletus T. Deppe

Cletus T. Deppe, 88, of rural Bellevue, passed away peacefully, Thursday, February 14th, 2008 at the Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. He was born March 24th, 1919, on a farm a few miles east of LaMotte, son of the late Louis and Susanna (Hingtgen) Deppe. He was a farmer all of his life and lived on the family farm since he was 11 months old. His mother passed away in 1920 of the flu. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Mike and Johanna (Hoffman) Hingtgen. Mr. Deppe attended Tete des Morts #3 rural school a mile from his farm. He married his next door neighbor Florence Ernst on February 3rd, 1942 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Bellevue. He was a member of the Bellevue Knights of Columbus #1354 since 1938 as well as the St. Donatus Luxembourg Heritage Society and St Donatus Historical Society. He was a loving father and enjoyed baseball, especially the New York Yankees. He also enjoyed NASCAR, hunting and riding his golf cart around the farm and doing activities with his family. Cletus enjoyed working the land and loved his farm animals, especially his faithful dog, LuLu. He liked to speak Luxembourgish and he collected many McCormick and IH antique tractors. He enjoyed going to antique shows and in 1986 he was one of the original founders of the Deppe Threshing and Antique Day held on his farm. Besides his wife Florence, survivors include, two daughters, Sue and Cleta Deppe both of Bellevue; a half sister, Luella Hughes, Davenport; a half brother, Ardell (Lois) Deppe, Bellevue; sister-in-law, Frances Deppe, Edgewood and a brother-in-law, Marvin Kieffer, Bellevue. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Francis Frank and Lester both in 1987; one sister-in-law, Marcella Deppe. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 10:30 AM Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bellevue. The Rev. Fr. Stephen Meyer will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 4-8 PM at the Kingery~Lemke Funeral Home, Bellevue, and again on Tuesday from 9:30 AM until the time of procession. The Kingery~Lemke Funeral Home and Cremation Services are in charge of the arrangements. The family would like to extend their heart felt appreciation to the Bellevue Ambulance and the nurses and staff at Mercy Medical Center, especially Dr. Luke Dolan. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Bellevue Fire Department and/or Ambulance Service. Online at www.kingeryfuneralhome.com