He was born in Chicago on November 7, 1953, to James A. and Jeannine Horstman. He grew up in Deerfield, Illinois, and attended Deerfield schools. He then graduated from DePauw University and Yale University and received his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Jim practiced law in Chicago and lived in the city and suburbs until he retired, and he and his wife, Peggy (Shapiro) Horstman, moved to Dixon in 2016.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Michael. In addition to Peggy, Jim is survived by his sister, Cathleen (Dave) Buthman, his daughter Whitney (Stephani), son Michael, and the entire extended Shapiro clan. He also leaves behind his faithful four-legged companions, Buddy and Poppy.
While in Dixon, Jim enjoyed kayaking the Rock River, doing shoreline reclamation projects with friend and neighbor Rick Bernotas, sharing mowing duties with another friend and neighbor, Tom Wilson, and living a more relaxed pace of life. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, served on the Lee County Board, and was the groundskeeper for the Ronald Reagan Childhood Home (much more fulfilling and enjoyable than his legal practice).
He also found time to indulge in two of his favorite pastimes, reading and listening to music. Jim regretted that he had no musical training, and he was able to remedy this by taking piano lessons at Viva Performing Arts School in Dixon. In appreciation, Jim planned to establish a fund at Viva to provide scholarships for students who would not otherwise be able to take music lessons. Contributions to “Jim’s Fund” can be sent to Viva Performing Arts School, 113 East 1st Street, Dixon, IL 61021. Viva is a 501(c)(3) organization. Arrangements by the Jones Funeral Home in Dixon.
