From the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel, November 21, 2021.

James (Jim) Julius Horvath was born July 19, 1945, in Milwaukee Wisconsin, the only child of Julius Frank and Marilyn Anita (nee Wilson) Horvath and joined his Heavenly Father on November 13, 2021.

Jim is survived by his adult-life-long love and best friend Carol Ann (nee Warren) Horvath.  They were married at Christ the King Catholic Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, on January 6, 1968 and were inseparable for 53 years.  (Jim often jested that forty-three of those years were the happiest of his life, leaving the description of the other years and which ones they were to your imagination.)  Jim and Carol were blessed with two wonderful sons and daughters-in-law, Bradley James Horvath and Carmen Dawn (nee Peterson) Jegers of Muskego, Wiisconsin and Brian John and Ida Ilona (nee Szabo) Horvath of Mesa, Arizona.  Brian and Ida provided three cherished grandchildren: Gabor Julius, Tibor Jozsef and Zsofia Mariska Horvath of Mesa, Arizona.  Carmen brought Candence (Cady) Noelle and Carlyn (Carly) Renee Jegers to the family..  They live in Muskego, Wisconsin.  Jim is also survived by eight of his ten cousins, other relatives and many friends.  Canine pal, Bojangles survives, while Bart and Bailey were already waiting Jim's arrival to go for a walk.

Jim lived in the Milwaukee area for about one-half of his life.  He was educarted in the West Allis, Wisconsin, school system and graduated from West Allis Central High School in 1963.  This is where Jim learned to play the clarinet and to appreciate and love all types of music, a passion that existed thorought his life.  Most of Jim's life long friendships were centered around a mutual participation in musical activities during those years.  (There was also a mutual interest in playing sheepshead for hours on end with friends.)  He martriculated college at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee that fall and earned his Bachelor of Business Administation degree in 1967.  Jim immediately continued his education, also at UW-M, earning his Masters of Business administration degree in 1969.

Jim began his business career in May of 1969 at Miller Brewing Company in the finance department.  He was pleased and proud to have worked for Miller for sixteen years during the companies "go-go" years of rapid growth and financial success as part of the Philip Morris Incorporated family of companies.  Jim headed up the treasury, corporate accounting and information technology functions over his years at Miller.  Jim was always grateful for the professional growth opportunities that were provided him at Miller as well as for the fond happy memories and many friendships he made while working there.

In 1985 a recruiter called with an opportunity as Vice President of Finance at American Crystal Sugar Company.  When Jim told Carol about the potential job, Carol said "Oh boy, you mean we might move to Hawaii?!"  While that was always a possibility - someday - while American Crystal was, indeed, in the sugar business, it wasn't in Hawaii, but rather in the Red River Valley of Minnesota/North Dakota.  This began the second half of Jim's life.

The family moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and Jim began his second career; this time in the sugar business.  Jim served as American Crystal's Vice President of Finance for seven years.  Then for four years as Chief Operating Officer of ProGold LLC, a partially owned Subsidiary of American Crysal that was a new entrant in the high fructose corn syrup business.  Following the successful startup of ProGold, Jim moved back to American Crystal in 1996 and became Chief Financial Officer for several years.  Jim was then asked to become President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, which he was from 1998 until his retirement in 2007, to that time the longest-serving president in American Crystal's 108 year history.  Jim was always thankful for the enduring and productive working relationships and friendships he had with the farmer-owners of American Crystal, the other officers and employees as well as the dedicated people in the sugar industry with whom he worked.

Jim and Carol enjoyed travel.  There were annual week-long trips to Japan for business for a number of years.  Vacation cruises throughout the Mediterranean, around the British Isles and the Baltic Sea were memorable.  Jim's favorite destinations were Rome and the Vatican, Hawaii, as well as Budapest, where his paternal grandparents were born.  Jim also enjoyed listening to all kinds of music daily and could often be found "conducting" favorite songs from his chair in the family room or on the deck/patio - including songs being played during up to 65-year-old re-runs of the Lawrence Welk Show on Saturdays.

Over the years Jim was a board member and chairperson of the Sugar Association, a trustee of the U.S. Beef Sugar Association, a member of the Agricultural Advisory Board of the Minneaapolis Federal Reserve Bank, a member of the Advisory board of The FM Global Insurance Company, a life member of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Alumni Association, a life member and former board member and chairperson of the Red River Human Serices Foundation in Fargo, North Dakota, a board member of the Moorhead (Minnesota) Country Club and a leader in the fund raising activities for the Boy Scouts of America in the Fargo/Moorhead area.

Following retirement Jim and Carol moved to Fountain Hills, Arizona, and spent summers in Flagstaff, Arizona, where Jim enjoyed feeding and observing the birds.  In retirement Jim was a board member and chairperson of the Sun Ridge Canyon (Fountain Hills, Arizona) Community Association for ten years.

Jim's life will be celebrated with a visitation at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary, Fountain Hills, Arizona, on Novemeber 18th.  Mass for Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 19th at Church of the Ascension - Fountain Hills.  Entombment will be at Paradise Memorial Gardens, Scottsdale, Arizona.