Obituary for Linda Carol (Dewey) McQuillen

Linda McQuillen, 74, of Peosta, Iowa, passed away surrounded by family on November 16, 2025, at Hawkeye Care Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at Reiff Funeral Home in Peosta, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 3:30 p.m.  Visitation will also be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Friday at Resurrection Catholic Church in Asbury, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Resurrection Catholic Church, with Very Rev. Phil Gibbs Presiding.  Burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

Linda was born on April 14, 1951, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Lyle and Elaine (Williams) Dewey. She graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1969 and from the University of Dubuque in 1973. At just 16 years old, in 1967, Linda joined the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra as a violinist, where she shared her extraordinary talent for 43 years, inspiring and delighting tens of thousands.

After college, Linda worked in the office at the Dubuque Packing Company, where she met the love of her life, Robert "Bob" McQuillen. The two were married on June 18, 1976. They welcomed their son, Christopher, on February 24, 1978, and their daughter, Lindsay, on May 16, 1985.

Once her children reached school age, Linda pursued her elementary education endorsement at Clarke University and began a meaningful career as a substitute teacher for both the Dubuque Community and Western Dubuque school districts. She touched the lives of many students through her warmth, patience, and love of learning.

Linda was a longtime member of Thunder Hills Country Club. Since 1991, she was also a devoted member of the Resurrection Church choir, where she deeply cherished the friendships she made. Her passions included quilting, spending time with friends, and enthusiastically cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team and the Indiana Fever.  She and Bob also enjoyed traveling together to places such as Ireland, New Orleans, Grand Cayman, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; her children, Chris (Janet) McQuillen and Lindsay McQuillen; her niece Jennifer (Jason) Kropp; her grandchildren, Danielle, Daisy, Charlie, and Benjamin; her twin sister Sandra (Rodney) Johnson; her sister Sharon (John) Grimes. She is also lovingly remembered by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Hawkeye Care Center, MercyOne Hospital, the Mercy Cancer Center, Hospice of Dubuque, and especially to Amanda for her exceptional care and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Hospice of Dubuque, or the Resurrection Church Choir.