James Connell Horacek

Jim was born in Nebraska on February 3, 1933, to C. James and Alice Horacek, but spent most of his growing-up years in Chicago, IL, where he played basketball for his high school. When he was 17, his family relocated to Sherman Oaks, CA.

He attended the University of Southern California, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation, he served as an officer in the US Air Force for 20 years, retiring in 1975 with the rank of Major.

He relocated his family to Olympia, WA, where he then worked for the State of Washington for 24 years, finishing his state career as the director of food distribution with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Jim traveled extensively during his military career, including North Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. After his retirement, he and his wife Sharon traveled to the East Coast, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, and Europe. During his many years of travel, he had visited or done business in all 50 states.

He was a lover of history and had an encyclopedic knowledge of World War II. He was also a lifelong fan of baseball and football and cheered on the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks. And no one who knew Jim would forget his devotion to his dogs. Since his youth, he owned two Cocker Spaniels, four Poodles and two Keeshonds.

Jim had an outgoing and humorous personality, was a well-loved dad and grandpa, and was a favorite at the many Olympia establishments he frequented over the years.

He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Sharon G Horacek, who died in 2013. He is survived by son Glenn C Horacek (Rosario), and daughters Diane C Johnson (Mark) and Kathryn L Pittelkau (Andrew), as well as grandchildren Rosalyn Horacek, James Horacek, Amy Johnson, Derek Johnson, Zachary Pittelkau, and Vincent Pittlekau.

There will be no public funeral or memorial service.