Julian George Nemmers, Jr., 96, passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 John F. Kennedy Rd., Dubuque. Visitation will continue from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 26, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1425 Iowa St., Dubuque. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 26, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Rev. Jeff Frieden will officiate. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded.

A lifelong Dubuquer, he was born at Finley Hospital to Dr. Julian Nemmers, Sr., DDS, and Ann Reger Nemmers in 1928.  He was educated at Nativity School, Loras College, and the University of Iowa School of Medicine, graduating in 1953.  Following medical school, he was proud to have served in the Air Force for over 2 years at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana, with the 301st Tactical Hospital.  He completed a four-year residency in Orthopedic surgery at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee.  Julian started his medical practice in Dubuque in 1960 in an office on Dodge Street.  In 1961, he became a fellow in the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and was the first residency trained, Board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Dubuque.  He was indebted to the Academy for providing world-class continuing education in a period of rapid expansion of orthopedic surgery, including joint replacement and arthroscopic surgery.  Julian founded Dubuque Orthopaedic Surgeons, P.C. in 1966.  A decade later the office was relocated next to Finley Hospital on North Grandview Avenue.

Julian loved his profession and helping his patients.  He served as President of the medical staff at Xavier and Mercy Hospitals, and past President of the Iowa Orthopedic Society.  He was honored with an induction into the Finley Hospital Hall of Fame. Julian practiced orthopedic medicine for 39 years, retiring in 1999.

Julian married Genevieve Walsh in 1953 and had six children. While his medical practice kept him extremely busy, he was able to spend precious time with his family, raising and showing Appaloosa ponies with the Ponies of America (POA) Club for over 50 years.  Known as “Doc” by his friends, he enjoyed traveling across the U.S. with his family showing their horses and connecting with other horse owners.  He was honored with an induction into the Ponies of America Hall of Fame for his efforts to improve the breed.

In 1989 he married Ruth Ann Storms.  They enjoyed raising horses, their ski trips to Colorado, and fishing trips in Canada and Alaska, as well as traveling to numerous European countries and China.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Ann; his parents; his sisters, Betty Kasel, Virginia Loes, and Charlotte Shanahan; a brother, Father Mark Nemmers; his first wife, Genevieve Nemmers; a daughter at birth, Mary Ann; and a nephew, Tony Loes.

He is survived by: Jacqueline Nemmers of Dubuque; Julian Nemmers II (wife Nancy and sons Ryan – partner Jina and daughter Adelynn, and Justin – wife Iliana and son Julian Bates) of Longmont, Colorado; Dr. Carolyn Nemmers of Barrington, Illinois; Catherine Nemmers, of Dubuque; Ellen Tuffy (husband Tim and daughters Genevieve and Evangeline), of Barrington, Illinois; and John Nemmers (wife Natalie and children Julian and Lauren) of Dubuque; a brother, Dr. David Nemmers, of Winfield, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Julian and his family would like to thank the staff of Bethany Home for the exceptional care that he received.  He also wished to thank his palliative care team, Hospice of Dubuque, and Dr. Ben Kumor.  Memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque, Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), or a veterans organization of your choice.