James D. "Jim" Avery, 59, of East Dubuque, IL, and formerly of Dubuque, IA, passed away Saturday morning, December 5, 2015, at home, following a lingering illness.

A Memorial Service will be at 11 A/M, on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at the Avery Railing & Ornamental Building, 168 East 10th Street, in Dubuque. Burial will be in the East Dubuque Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 P/M to 7 P/M, on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, and from 10 A/M to 10:45 A/M, on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at the Avery Railing and Ornamental Building.

The Miller Funeral Home, East Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.

Jim was born on April 4, 1956, in Dubuque, IA, the son of Harvey "Bud" and Mary T. (Heinz) Avery. He was a 1974 graduate of Dubuque Senior High School.

Jim started his working career at Mitch's Cycle Shop, part time, then worked at Computer Consulting Service (later CyCare). He continued helping out at the cycle shop off and on along with R & H Electronice, until leaving CyCare. Jim started a company installing computer systems and writing application programs for local companies, maintaining and installing networking products throughout Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Finally, after getting tired of sitting in front of computers all the time, he started Avery Railing, an ornamental iron works company.

After traveling to Italy with Rhonda, he was inspired by the Italian railings, his new business, Avery Railings, was born. In the twelve (12) years of doing ornamental iron work, many Tri-State area railings, gates and fences, were designed, built and installed by Jim. Along with the Iron work interest, he was also into some sculpture and interactive kinetic pieces, some of which were in the Voices show in Dubuque in 2011. He also made a piece for Black Rock City, Nevada.

Jim was a pool player in his younger years, and enjoyed the camaraderie with his teammates. He enjoyed working in a motorcycle thrill show in his early years and later for a few years did some amateur flat track motorcycle racing. His love of motorcycles started with a Parilla, then Norton's, Triumph's, BSA's, and for a short time a couple Harley Davidson's, and on to Moto Guzzi and Moto Morini's.

He was a life member of the American Motorcycle Association (AMA). He was also a member of NOMMA, and the Blacksmith and Welders Association.

His last projects were designing and building large bicycle contraptions, interactive sculpture machines, and microcontroller projects using cast off machines and pianos.

Originally, he was married to Marie Strong, and later to Mary Schaller, until finally connecting with Rhonda Dunbar, who was a fantastic partner, friend and confidant.

Surviving Jim are Rhonda Dunbar and her sons, Eric and Alex; his parents, Harvey "Bud" and Mary Avery, of Dubuque, IA; a sister, Catherine (Nick) St. Jean, of St. Augustine, FL; brothers, Charles (Cindy) Avery, of Minneapolis, MN, Michael (Donna) Avery, of North Attleboro, MA, Thomas (Jackie) Avery, of Maquoketa, IA, Robert (Carol) Avery, of Waunakee, WI, and Ronald Avery, of East Dubuque, IL; his aunt, Joyce (Bob) Thilmany; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Julie Marie, in 1982; a nephew, Nathaniel Avery, in 2005; his grandparents; aunts and uncles.

Jim's family wishes to extend special "thanks" to Hospice of Dubuque, especially Barb, and Dr. Mark Hermann and his staff for the wonderful care given to Jim.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's name may be given to Hospice of Dubuque.

Online condolences may be left at www.millerfhed.com