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

A highly attended, beautiful flower-filled wake was held Friday, July 29 in Pembroke Pines, FL with memorial service and burial at Vista Memorial Gardens in Miami Lakes, FL.

John was born August 10, 1948 in Dubuque.  After attending St. Anthony Catholic School, he graduated from Wahlert High School in 1966.  He received a diploma from the International Correspondence School, Scranton, PA, in sign making and completed graphic arts courses at Clarke College.  He married his loving wife, Amanda (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.  He had interests in numismatics, doo-wop and Motown music, Mopar cars, drag races, golf, action films and his Triumph motorcycle.

John was an easy-going, modest man with a soft heart for the less fortunate and for the family pets.  He also had a witty sense of humor and 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, Maria; a son, Weston; a daughter, Whitme Walker, a son-in-law, Ken Caban, and two granddaughters.  He also is survived by his mother, Rose Eldridge and stepfather, Harry Eldridge, of Bethany Home in Dubuque; brother, Jim, of Dayton, Ohio, Jeff (wife, Jane) of Dubuque, and Joel, of Marion, IA; a sister, Judy (husband Robert) Freiburger, of Dubuque; stepbrothers, Peter (wife, Marge) Eldridge of Dubuque, and Phil (wife, Jackie) Eldridge, of Iowa City; and several nieces and nephews.  John was preceded in death by his father, James, in 1963.