John Joseph Walker, 62, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away suddendly and unexpectedly Monday, July 25, 2011. He died of natural causes.

His Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2011, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service and Tributes to a Lifetime Service at 8:00 p.m. at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care in Pembroke Pines, Florida. The Burial Service will follow the next day at 11:15 a.m. at Vista Memorial Gardens in nearby Miami Lakes, Florida. He will be buried near his wife’s family members (and his as well, through marriage).

John was born on August 10, 1948, in Dubuque. After attending St. Anthony’s Catholic School, he graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School in 1966. He received a diploma from the International Correspondence School in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in sign making and completed graphic-arts courses at Clarke College in Dubuque. He married his loving wife Amada (Maria) Rodriguez, on April 8, 1978.

A gifted artist and sign maker, John and his brother Jeff co-founded the Advanta Sign Company in Dubuque in 1978. He and his family then moved to Florida in 1982, where he founded the Artway Sign Company. John’s daughter and son sometimes helped their dad at Artway, and they all had a very close family bond. John played organized slow-pitch softball for many years in Dubuque and continued to play in Florida. In fact, his company in Florida sponsored the team. He had interests in numismatics, doo-wop and Motown music, Mopar cars, drag races, golf, action films and his Triumph motorcycle. Although he traveled with his family throughout the United States, including Los Angeles and New York City, as well as to the Caribbean islands and Europe, his favorite city to visit was always San Francisco. He also enjoyed traveling to the national parks of the American West.

John was an easy-going, modest gentleman with a soft heart for the less fortunate and for the family pets. He also had a witty sense of humor that was appreciated by all who knew him. His loving family joins together in thanking John for the countless wonderful moments they spent with him and for the magnificent memories he has left behind.

John is survived by his wife, Amada (Maria); a son, Weston; a daughter, Whitnie; a son-in-law, Ken Caban; and two granddaughters, who all reside around the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida. He also is survived by his mother, Rose Eldridge, and stepfather, Harry Eldridge, of Bethany Home in Dubuque; brothers Jim, of Dayton, Ohio, Jeff (wife, Jane) of Dubuque, and Joel, of Marion, Iowa; a sister, Judy (husband, Robert) Freiburger, of Dubuque; stepbrothers, Peter (wife Marge) Eldridge, of Dubuque, and Phil (wife, Jackie) Eldridge, of Iowa City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews,
including goddaughters Lisa Ousley, of Dubuque, and Jessica Walker, of Iowa City.

John was preceded in death by his father, James, in 1963.

John, you will always be in our hearts.