Earl F. Haferbecker, 95, of Saint Catherine’s passed away at 3:05 p.m., Saturday, December 17th, 2016 at Manor Care.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 23, 2016, at Saint Joseph Church Key West with Rev. Rod Allers officiating. Burial will follow at Dubuque Memorial Gardens Cemetery with Military Honors accorded by American Legion Post #6. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, December 22, 2016 at the Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory 2595 Rockdale Road, where a parish rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m.

Earl was born on May 10, 1921 in Dubuque the son of Ernest and Mayme (Durr) Haferbecker. He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1939, and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1941 to 1945. On October 10, 1946, he married Thelma Fettgather at Saint Philomena’s Catholic Church in Asbury.

Earl served as a Dubuque Police Officer for 25 years retiring in 1976 at the rank of Captain. He later served part time on the Bellevue Police Department. He was a member of the American Legion Post #6, the VFW, The Iowa State Police Association and Saint Catherine’s Parish.

He loved to fish, hunt, and travel and especially enjoyed his annual trips to Texas with Thelma.

He is survived by his wife Thelma, a daughter Sandy (Bill) Valentine, of LaMotte, two sons Earl “Butch” (Mary) Haferbecker, of Florida, and Rickey (Pat) Haferbecker, of North Carolina, 7 grandchildren 7 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter Tammy, brothers Clarence and John and a sister Mayme “Dolly” Nelson

The family would like to thank the staff of Manor Care and Hospice of Dubuque as well as the Dubuque Police Honor Guard and the American Legion Post #6 Military Detail for all they did for Earl.