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James “Jim” Garland Hornbeck was born on March 12, 1948 in Logan, Iowa, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 28, 2021. He graduated from Logan-Magnolia High School in 1966 and Wayne State College in 1970. He earned his Master’s Degree from Drake University in 1993. Quintessentially Iowa, Jim first met Connie Adams, his wife of 36 years, in 1970, when Jim was Connie’s supervisor while detasseling corn. They began dating in 1981, and four years later, they blended their families, Jim, with Shelly and Shad, and Connie, with Jessica, in marriage. Together they had one daughter, Phoebe Jo in 1987. Jim loved his family. Jim taught for 38 years at Missouri Valley Community Schools. He taught middle school English before transferring to the high school in 1991. He taught thousands of students the importance of adverb clauses, direct objects, and infinitives. He taught his students the story of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and pushed his students to go beyond where they even thought they could go. He was an avid reader and writer himself, writing two unpublished fantasy novels. Many students will remember his quick wit in the classroom and that “Mr. Hornbeck” suffered no fools. Another of JIm’s great loves was sports. He instilled this love and passion for sports in his family and four children. He was a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Braves. He was a rare fan in that he had equal love and passion for both the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and, of course, any team that played against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Jim shared his passion for sports with so many others. He began coaching in 1970 and coached junior high girls’ basketball and track for over 40 years. Being a former hurdler and basketball player himself, Jim impressed upon his athletes the importance of fundamentals, sometimes going to extraordinary lengths. Jim still holds the school record at Logan Magnolia High School with 29 rebounds in one game. He also loved to golf, especially with his kids. In 1986, Jim and Connie started C.J. Futures’ Lawn and Landscaping from a closet in their basement. Over the years, they’ve employed hundreds of people and served thousands of customers in their community. When Jim wasn’t teaching or coaching, you could find him mowing Bethel Cemetery, among others, with his good friends and a Coors Light in his hand.
JIm is survived by his wife, Connie, his children Shelly (Jason) Ross, Shad Hornbeck, Jessica Bradford (Xavier), and Phoebe (Emil) Gearhart, five grandchildren Savanna, Greylan, Elena, Emma and Atticus, and his sister Phyllis Kersten of Iowa and brothers Larry (Shirley) of Colorado, Bob of Texas, Dennis (Susan) of Iowa, and Jon (Becky) of Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Gee, and his mother, Kathryn, stepfather, Calvin Harris, brother Garry, stepbrother James Harris, brother-in-law James Kersten and sister-in-law Susan Hornbeck.
Visitation will be Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Funeral Service 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 2, 2021
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Missouri Valley, Iowa
14 Comments
So Very Very Sorry 😢
Prayers Prayers Prayers Prayers To All The Beautiful Family
Sincere Condolences To All The Family.
Patty & Tom NIEDERMYER. Magnolia Iowa
Very sorry to hear about Mr. Hornbeck. I have great class memories and Middle school teacher party memories at the Longs with the stories he would share. Sending prayers of comfort to his family and close friends.
I’m so sorry to hear about Jim’s passing. My deepest sympathies to his family. Keeping you in my thoughts.
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. Sending my love and prayers to the family.
Dear Connie and family and friends, I’m so sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. It sounds like he had an incredible life and has a wonderful family. I know you will miss him dearly. Again, my sincere sympathy.
Connie sending my deepest condolences.
So very sorry Connie and family Jim was one of our favorite friends and teacher and coach for our children. You will be missed Jim but leave many fond memories.
Nothing but pleasant memories of Mr Hornbeck from school. Prayers and thoughts to Connie and family.
Connie, so very sorry for your loss.
Dearest family
Our sincere condolences. Jim loved life and was good at whatever he did. An fine icon of the community.
John and Leia Johnsen and Family
To Shad and family
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. I know he will be missed by many! My condolences
Connie and family: So sorry for your loss. Sending many prayers 🙏🙏 I have great memories. From C Js..
My prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Mr. Hornbeck was on of the greatest influences on my life and, sadly, I’m pretty sure he never knew it. As a teacher, he reigned me in and set the bar high. I remember I got an “A” on a class speech; he told me it was only one of 2 he’d ever given and I became a Public Speaking teacher. I’d never been to a track meet before I competed and he helped me find what I was best at. He set boundaries, he expected, he shot straight, but without too much control. A high school coach told me Mr. Hornbeck was the reason we had such brilliant hurdlers for so many years. All those state appearances and medals were because of him teaching the basics so well. He was truly meant to do what he did. God Bless You all and make your good memories of him bring you comfort at this time. Thank you for sharing him with all us students.
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