Hefel, James E. "Jim" 1949-2013

HEFEL, RUDEN, MARTIN, BREITBACH, DEUTMEYER, KREEB, HAYES, WEDEWER

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 16:57:23

Behr Funeral Home obituaries

James E. "Jim" Hefel, age 63, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully at 12:15 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Church, North Buena Vista, IA, with Deacon James Pfaffly officiating. To celebrate Jim's life family and friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013, at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, where there will be a parish wake service said at 1:30 p.m. Family and friends may also visit from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in North Buena Vista in the Immaculate Conception Church Hall. Burial will be in the North Buena Vista Cemetery.

Jim was born on March 20, 1949, in North Buena Vista, son of Edward and Rita (Ruden) Hefel.

Jim graduated from the former Leo High School in 1967. After graduation he went to work for a construction company and was injured on the job in October of that year. In 1971, he graduated from the Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking in New York. While attending school he qualified for and was able to participate in the International Wheelchair Olympics, in the archery division, held in London. James Martin Jewelers was established in 1983, and Jim continued operating the business until 2012. He was a self taught business man who built his success by operating his business with the highest level of integrity. Jim valued his employees and treated them all like family. In 1984, Jim moved to Dubuque, but his heart was always in Buenie.

He had a great passion for life and enjoyed and appreciated life to the fullest. He was a great wine maker, always enjoyed a game of Euchre, loved his trips to Vegas, working with wood, road trips, turkey and deer hunting. His greatest joy in life was when he was on his pontoon boat on the Mississippi fishing for crappies and bluegills with his family and friends. Jim enjoyed the many strong friendships he had and his friends meant the world to him.

Jim is survived by his siblings,
Mary (Dave) Breitbach, North Buena Vista, IA,
Roger (Janet) Hefel, North Buena Vista, IA,
Mark "Fritz" (Sue) Hefel, North Buena Vista, IA,
Helen (Richard) Deutmeyer, Luxemberg, IA,
Kay (Bill) Kreeb, Dyersville, IA,
Ann (Tim) Hayes, Dubuque, IA,
Carol (Gary) Wedewer, Petersburg, IA,

23 nieces and nephews,
Ed, Alan, Sherry, Cathy, Denise, Shelly, Jodi, Michael, Tony, Kristie, Matt, Scott, Krystal, Abby, Kara, Brian, Marty, Liz, Samantha, Ben, Jenni, Justin, Wes,
40 great nieces and nephews,

and many special friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his father Edward in 1978, his mother Rita in 2009, and his brother Richard in 1966.

In lieu of flowers a James E. "Jim" Hefel memorial fund has been established.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff of Hospice of Dubuque, especially Cindy, Lisa and Jen. A special thank you also to his neighbor Ruth.