Charles Alan Cate

Charles Alan Cate, age 80, passed away on October 13, 2026 in Cape Coral, Florida. He leaves his cherished wife of 49 years, Rebecca Ratliff Cate. Born in Dubuque, Iowa on September 9, 1946 to Edward and Alice Kime Cate, Charles was the second of eight children.

Charles, graduated from Dubuque Senior High school in 1964. He was very active in sports including baseball, track, basketball, and football. Charles also played trombone in the band, orchestra, marching band, and dance band earning state ensemble awards and music letters. As a teen, he worked on his uncle's farm and at county and state fairs in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana with another uncle.

Charles attended Iowa State University and Old Dominion University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville where he was elected to the Chi Epsilon honorary engineering society and served as chapter treasurer. He also earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Engineering emphasis from Kansas State University where he was a research and teaching assistant.

Charles served four years active duty and two years reserve duty during the Vietnam war era in the U.S. Navy as a petty officer 2nd class. Duty stations included the minesweeper USS Limpkin and Inshore Undersea Warfare Group Two.

After graduating college Charles joined Cullen, Kilby, Carolan and Associates in Dubuque, Iowa. As a Registered Professional Engineer specializing in environmental engineering he designed water and wastewater control projects for the City of Dubuque and Burlington, Iowa among many others. In 1981 Charles joined IIW Engineers and Surveyors, P.C. and continued designing environmental projects for the City of Dubuque and many surrounding communities. He eventually rose to the position of President with IIW. He served as President of the Dubuque Chapter of the Iowa Engineering Society and was named Dubuque Chapter Engineer of the Year in 1993. Also in 1993 he traveled to Dubuque's sister city, Handan, China where he visited the Great Wall on an engineering exchange trip. Charles also served as City Engineer for the City of Bellevue, Iowa.

In 2011 Charles and Becky retired to Cape Coral, Florida where they enjoyed many visits from family and friends. They also made numerous trips to Iowa and Japan to visit their daughters and families. Charles was a devoted husband and father, a lifelong swimmer, bicyclist, and woodworker.

Surviving are his daughters, Teeya Marie Brandt of Dubuque, IA, Alicia Jewell (Trevor) Youngberg of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Carrie Quincy (Nobuyuki) Matsushita of Osaka, Japan; grandchildren Jewell, Arien and Jozie of Dubuque, Iowa, Alex and Archer of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ami and Hironobu of Osaka, Japan; great-grandchildren June and Waylon of Dubuque, IA; sisters Cheryl (Jurgen) Bettels of Switzerland, Mony (Eddie) Hesseling of East Dubuque, IL; Kim Cate (Gary Cochrane) of Greenwood Lake, SC; brother James Cate (Connie Mitchell) of Altoona, IA, cousin Frederick Michael Cate of Austria; brothers-in-law Roy Brown and Joe Ratliff; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Judith Cate Eichhorn, Alyce Jacklyn Marsh, brother Thomas John Cate, mother-in-law Mary Rumberger, and brother-in-law Billy Ratliff.

A celebration of life to honor Charles will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a memorial donation to a cancer research society of their choice in honor of Charles Cate. Thank you for remembering him with your kindness.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to John Charney for his compassionate and loving care and support to Charles and Rebecca.