D. James “Jim” Edwards, 88, of Peosta, died at the University of Iowa Hospital on Monday, October 30, 2023.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Interment will be in Dubuque Memorial Gardens, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corps League.  The funeral service will be livestreamed at egelhofsiegertcasper.com.

Jim was born on May 1, 1935, to Albert and Margaret (O’Neal) Edwards in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Jim learned early in life from his stepfather to have a sense of urgency. It was his concrete basis as a Marine and business owner. He proudly served our country in the United States Marine Corps from June 6, 1954, to June 6, 1956. He was the founder and CEO of Edwards Cast Stone for fifty-two years until he hung up his steel-toed boots and hard hat in 2005. Jim’s retirement was spent playing the sport he loved, golf. He was a charter member and past Thunder Hills Golf Club president in Peosta, IA.

Jim was all about the community as much as his family. He served on the Dubuque County Fairgrounds board for twenty years, has been a life member of the Sertoma Club since 1965, and is a fifty-plus-year member of Masonic Lodge 125, Clinton Consistory, and Kaaba Shrine. Jim was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for over sixty years, serving as the session’s elder and president. He was always looking for solutions and answered the call when needed.

He gave so much: his larger-than-life personality, smile, love for family and friends, his “man on a mission” attitude, and always striving to be better and do better. We are all better to have been fortunate enough to have him in our lives. He will never be forgotten.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Pat, of 66 years; children, Bob (Dori) Edwards of Dubuque, IA, Jeff (Connie) Edwards of Dubuque, IA, Tim (Kelly) Edwards of Oak Point, TX, Steve (Cathy) Edwards of Milan, IL, and Doug (Amy) Edwards of Peosta, IA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jason (Casey), Nicholas (Amanda), Tim, Alex (Hillary), Matthew (Ehricka), Shawn (Bri), Mitchell (Michealla), Michael (Kelli), Molly (Colton) Jones, Ryan (Hailey), Peter “PJ,” Mary; great-grandchildren, Regan, Rory, Kellen, Asher, Lewis, Hayden, Riley, Bodie, Mason, Malia, Mark, Billy, Sylvie, and Reece. Also surviving are brothers Abe (Ginny) Edwards, Bill (Lonnie) Edwards, and Jack (Karla) Edwards; sister Beverly (Gerald) Koch; and brother-in-law Karl Reinelt.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Shirley Sack, Lynda Higdon, Cathy Reinelt, Carole Dellecese, and brother-in-law’s, Lavern Sack and Joe Dellecese.

A Jim Edwards Memorial Fund has been established.