James Arthur “Jim” Webster

James Arthur “Jim” Webster, 80, of Galena, IL, died on December 21, 2025, at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque after battling Alzheimer’s Disease for several years.  To honor Jim’s life, a memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29^th, at Grace Episcopal Church, 107 S. Prospect St., in Galena, with visitation beginning at 12:00 noon.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Jim’s family. 

Jim was born on “V-J Day” August 15, 1945, in Miami, FL, to Claude and Velma (Ritchie) Webster. He grew up in Miami on 53rd Street and remained lifelong friends with many of his childhood neighbors. He graduated from Miami Edison High School in 1963 and obtained an Associates Degree from Miami Dade Junior College while working at the Miami Herald. He then moved north to study at the University of Missouri Journalism School where he received his Bachelor of Journalism degree and met J-school classmate, Kathleen Kettering.

Jim and Kathleen were married on February 22, 1969, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland before moving to Chicago where Jim worked at the Chicago Tribune. It wasn’t long before they discovered Galena on a weekend trip, buying a house in 1970.  After a year of driving back and forth from Chicago every weekend, Jim and Kathleen moved to Galena permanently in 1971 and both began working at the Telegraph Herald in Dubuque. They remained in Galena where they raised their daughters and enjoyed life in their little corner of paradise on the edge of town. Jim and Kathleen owned and operated their Boutique PR firm, “Webster’s Unabridged,” from 1994 until retiring in 2018. They enjoyed many work trips with their friends in the Midwest Travel Writers Association.

Jim was a kind and compassionate neighbor who dedicated many hours of service to his community, serving as a board member or volunteer for several organizations including the Galena ARC, Jo Daviess Peace Fellowship, Dubuque Regional Humane Society, Galena Public Library District, Jo Daviess County Democrats and most recently the United Churches of Galena Food Pantry. He served Grace Episcopal Church as a lay reader and Bishop’s Warden in the 1980’s.

Jim was a prolific gardener, a creative cook, a reader, a writer, and a traveler. He particularly loved biographies and history, and enjoyed visiting the places he read about throughout North America and Europe. He enjoyed his work writing press releases and other PR material for local organizations, and was proud to have some of his well-penned letters to the editor printed in national publications. Jim loved being outside and walking his dogs in the parks and preserves around Galena and Dubuque.

Jim is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughters Rachel (Curtis Pierce) of Denver and Norah of Dubuque, and a sister Mary Joyce (Gary) Lewis of Cadiz, Kentucky, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and many beloved cats and dogs.

Jim’s family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque, Ahva Living of East Dubuque and Stonehill Care Center for their compassionate care and support.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Jim’s memory with a donation to Hospice of Dubuque, The Dubuque Regional Humane Society, The United Churches of Galena Food Pantry, or another cause you think he would appreciate.

Online condolences for Jim’s family may be left at www.tristatecremationcenter.com