James Leo Loftus

James Leo Loftus, from Springfield, IL, transitioned to an eternal life in heaven on October 14, 2019, at 1:48pm. A talented businessman and entrepreneurial trailblazer, Jim passes on a passion for the environment, commitment to opportunity, and a dogged determination to create his own future, as well as a nature sanctuary in Greene County.

Jim was born on January 18th, 1939, at Decatur Memorial Hospital, the eldest son of Donald Loftus and Maxine Scott Loftus. He attended Oak Hill Grade School and was a graduate of Riverton High School, in the class of 1957. A former high school basketball player at the commanding height of 6’6”, he went to college at Springfield College of Illinois.

Jim married Guylia Yvonne Range from Greene County, IL, and together they raised five children: James Robin (Mitzi Magee); Eric Brian; Jeffrey Leon (Lynell Dekan); Heidi Yvonne (Phillip Wilson); and Angela Heather (Tony Campos).

Jim’s long and committed work history in Springfield started with his job at Central Illinois Public Service. After ten years at CIPS, he found his true calling assisting families with their financial well-being and security as a licensed insurance agent at Central National Life, which ultimately became John Deere Life. He also was an independent insurer and annuity agent for Summit Life, United Trust and Greater Beneficial Union. Jim’s competitive nature, and the successes that he achieved within the insurance field, won him many sales performance awards – year in and year out.

During this period, while raising a young family, Jim and Guylia took a variety of international trips – Spain, Morocco, and Acapulco, among them – and invested in side businesses and real estate opportunities across the country, including in family photography, hospitality and race cars. Jim was a prolific entrepreneur, risk-taker and believer in human potential. His risks were driven by a passion to learn, and he was known to share his business acumen with whomever was lucky to come into his path, many of whom continue in the insurance and sales industries today.

As a young man, Jim enjoyed game hunting with his father and brothers. When Jim and Guylia were dating, Guylia’s brother Vern introduced Jim to deer hunting. As the family grew, Jim’s sons soon joined on hunts near Niantic and Illiopolis. This love of the land and Jim's success with insurance allowed Jim and Guylia to pursue his lifelong dream of purchasing land and creating a hunting preserve in Greene County. His love for conservation and wildlife habitat – which extended from planting trees with his sons, to protecting a variety of animals and plants at his properties – was realized in Arrowhead Ridge Lodge, which hosts bowhunters and family. He believed in protecting the natural environment and was fiercely protective of the space he had created for his family, friends and guests.

It carries on his legacy. Our family and friends will miss him at the head of his table.

Jim is survived by his wife, five children and seven grandchildren (Devon, Connor, Danielle, Taylor, Rachel, Riley and Ty). He is also survived by a sister, Jill (Jim, deceased, KY), and two brothers, Dan (Bonnie) and Don (Robin). He was preceded in death by brother Jack.

The family of James Leo Loftus is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.