James "Jim" Brooks Kinzer, 72, of Watseka passed away on Monday, December 16, 2024 at his home. He was born on March 27, 1952 in Evanston, Illinois, a son of James B. and Vaida (Riggs) Kinzer Jr., and they preceded him in death along with one grandson, Theodore Woodrow Kinzer.

 

Jim married Margaret “Meg” Morris in Evanston, Illinois on August 12, 1978, and she survives in Watseka.

 

Other survivors include two sons, James (Rivka Daar) Kinzer of Northbrook and Charles (Kathleen) Kinzer of Chicago; two grandchildren, Hannah and Naomi Kinzer of Northbrook; one brother, John (Mary) Kinzer of North Carolina; three sisters, Jamie Kinzer of Los Angeles, California, Margaret (Jack) Meyers of Pennsylvania, and Janet (Alan Abrams) Kinzer of Silver Spring, Maryland.

 

Jim graduated from Yale in 1973 and then graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1978. He was a lawyer, public defender, and in 2005 became a Circuit Judge of the 21st Judicial Circuit in Iroquois County. He was the director and founder of the Iroquois County Soccer Association. Jim was an Eagle Scout and then a Scoutmaster. He enjoyed hiking, traveling and spending time outdoors, and he hiked the Appalachian Trail and Hadrian's Wall. Jim was a loving, generous and kind husband, father and grandfather. Most of all, he loved time spent with his family and friends. Alan Abrams described Jim as “A wit, the essence of a scholar, and a budding novelist.”

 

A memorial visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 2024 at the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka. A private service and burial will be held at a later date.

 

Memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

 

Please share a memory of Jim at www.knappfuneralhomes.com.