James L. “Jim” Beining, 82, of Dubuque, passed peacefully Tuesday afternoon, February 25, 2025, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by family, with his grandson Kaleb by his side.

Family and friends may gather on Tuesday, March 11th from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A funeral service will be held at 5:30 p.m. with Fr. Martin Obeng officiating. Jim’s final wish was to donate his body to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Department of Anatomy to help improve the quality of life for many others. A private ceremony will be held on a later date when his ashes are returned.

Jim was born May 1, 1942, to the late Lloyd and Agnes (Raeder) Beining in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He graduated from Berlin High School in 1960, later attending the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.

During early adulthood, he co-owned a small auto body shop in Berlin, WI, until starting his career with Hobart Corporation in Wausau, WI.  In 1970, Jim relocated to Dubuque, realizing his dream to be the owner of the local Hobart agency. “Mr. Hobart” dedicated 40 years of his life to servicing and repairing food service equipment in a 14-county area. Jim could diagnose and repair most anything and enjoyed sharing his knowledge.

Jim married Patricia (Kuehn) Thoma on December 21, 2015.  She was his constant companion. They spent the last 10 years traveling, visiting friends, gardening and working together to improve their property.

Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend; often reminding them to keep their heads up and continue peddling forward.  Jim rarely had an idle moment. He could almost always be found tending to his garden, in his woodworking shop, or cutting firewood. Jim also enjoyed planting trees, cooking for his friends and family, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing, museums and antique car shows.

Jim is survived by his wife Patricia Thoma; his son Paul Beining of Fitchburg, WI; his grandson and best friend Kaleb Beining of Iowa City, IA; stepchildren Michelle (Carl) Carner and their children Joseph and Charlotte of Dubuque, IA; Emily (Tim) Gosche and their children Lillian and Tyler of Hazel Green, WI; and Will (Tara) Thoma and their children, Finley and Faye of Moscow, IA; brother Stephen Beining of Bookelia, FL; brother-in-law John Mathie of Wauwatosa, WI; and numerous nieces and nephews; former wife Ellen (Henry) Beno and her daughter Amy (Mike) Muth and their son Adam.

He was preceded in death by son Jeremy Beining; his parents; sisters Carole Testwuide and Cynthia Mathie; and brother-in-law Robert Testwuide Jr.

If you wish to honor his memory, please feel free to contribute to a charity of your choice, plant a tree, build a birdhouse, or spend an afternoon picking up litter along a roadside. He would have appreciated any act of kindness that leaves the world a little better than you found it.