A very special family lost an incredible human being this week. Jimi (Kylie) Welbes had unexpectedly passed at home on December 4, 2024. She was 31 years old. However friends and family knew Jimi or Kylie best, she will be remembered and missed dearly. The family would like to celebrate her life and could use the support and help with the cost of services and cremation. However you can help, it would mean a lot to his mother, sisters, brother, and grandparents. Services at Behr Funeral Home are pending and will be posted with the obituary and updated on this page. Thank you.

Update: The family is gratefully overwhelmed by everyone’s support and kindness. They would like to thank each and every person for their generosity, donations, offers to help and kindness words of comfort during this difficult time. Services will be held Thursday, December 12 from 3pm-6pm at Behr Funeral Home for all those who wish to attend.

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James D. "Jimi" "Kylie" Welbes Obituary

James Donovan Welbes, age 31, of Dubuque, passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at his family home. To honor this beautiful life, family and friends may visit from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm with a sermon by Fr. Steve Garner on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St. Dubuque, IA.

Jimi was born to Anastasia L Garner and James J. Welbes in Dubuque, Iowa on October 26, 1993. He attended school at Marshall Elementary, Jefferson Jr. High, and Hempstead High School during his childhood years.

Throughout his young life, Jimi had many hobbies and talents to be admired. He loved skateboarding and snowboarding and spent a lot of time at skateparks and Sundown mountain as a teenager with his friends. He worked at Vinny Vanucchis in Dubuque.

Jimi was beyond intelligent, oftentimes superseding many expectations and surprising everyone with his wit and wisdom, even at a very young age. He always knew what to say, whether it was to share advice, crack a joke, or just listen and understand. Jimi had great personal style and loved to coordinate his outfits and wear very fashionable clothes and shoes. He was creative, and had a huge talent and interest in the arts, being able to draw very intricate portraits on very interesting and unsuspected mediums. Jimi picked up crochet later in life and made gifts for his siblings such as hats and stuffed animals.

We all remember, cherish, and forever embrace the memories we have made with Jimi.

Later in adulthood, while on his complex journey through life, Kylie came into existence. Kylie was a beautiful, kind, and loving soul. She was so loved and supported by friends and family coming out to the world in her transition. She held every great quality she had ever had in the past, plus so much more. Kylie discovered a love for writing and creating music, writing profound and unique lyrics for songs and connecting with other artists both near and far. Kylie lived at her family home with her grandma, Dino and her aunt, Kim where she spent time writing and recording music, playing the ukulele, and loved visiting friends and local businesses in Dubuque in her free time. Kylie worked at Casey’s on Peru Rd. in Dubuque. She cared deeply about her friends, family, and co-workers and made an impact on so many lives. She had a way to make everyone around her feel seen and understood.

Those left to cherish the memories of both Jimi and Kylie, in love and light, include mother, Anastasia “Stacy” Garner; siblings, Shelby (Blake) Welbes, Alayna (Vincent) Tuzar, and Carson (Daniel) Frommelt; grandparents, Daniel and Judy Garner, and Lyndeen “Dino” Welbes, an uncle, Daniel Garner and cousin, Evan Garner and beloved great aunts, great uncles, and cousins on both sides of the family, and so many great friends from both childhood and adulthood.

Preceded in death by his father, James J. Welbes and grandfather, Joseph R. Welbes.

The family would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support, love, and kindness from friends, family, and community as well as the compassionate care of responding medical staff and officers and Behr Funeral Home staff.

Greeting cards and memorials may be mailed to Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St. Dubuque, IA 52001 Attn: James “Kylie” Welbes Family

Love is love.