The Honorable Judge James (Jim) M. Wexstten, 71, passed away at Greentree Assisted Living and Memory Care in Mount Vernon, Illinois on April 10, 2022. Jim was born on April 29, 1950, in Pana, Illinois to the late Henry and Doris (Ruppert) Wexstten. Jim grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Jim married Darla Smith Wisely on August 3, 1982, in Breckenridge, Colorado. Jim graduated from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in the charter class of 1976 after a BS in History from SIU. He began his career in Mount Vernon Illinois in the law firm which became Giamanco Wexstten. He then served the citizens, bench, and bar of the Second Judicial Circuit, Fifth District Appellate Court, and the State of Illinois for twenty-five years. He retired as Judge later Justice of the Illinois Courts in December 2013. In 2014, the Illinois Judges Association presented Justice Wexstten the Distinguished Service Award to Law Society.
Judge Wexstten loved the law and involved himself in many areas of service to his profession. He was a devoted member and former President of the Illinois Judges Association. He received many appointments to serve on committees, state-wide task forces, and advisory councils. He was a charter member of the Judicial Ethics Opinions Committee, Chair of the Judicial Election Retention Committee, a Lecturer for the Illinois Judges Association Speakers Bureau, and Facilitator Judge for Judicial Performances Evaluation Program. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Conference on The Future of the Courts of Illinois, and the Board of Directors of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program, then elected President of the organization in 2011.
Judge Wexstten demonstrated a passion for social justice for all citizens but devoted a great deal of time to assist at risk youth. He was a Past President of Prevent Child Abuse-Illinois and recipient of the Child Advocate of the Year for a professional lifetime commitment to the welfare and protection of children. He served on the Legislative Committee on Juvenile Justice, including working to develop a long-term plan for providing residential care for children. He served on the Advisory Board of the Children and Family Research Center of the school of Social Work at the University of Illinois. Locally, Judge Wexstten was a founder in establishing the Southern Thirty Adolescent Center to provide shelter for at-risk youth as an alternative to detention.
Jim loved to play golf, snow ski, and travel with family and friends. He embraced life with gusto and leaves a void for all who knew and loved him. Judge Wexstten was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Doris Wexstten.
He is survived by his wife Darla; daughters, Nikki Carrion, Bria Robinson (Danny), Erin Wexstten (Yuri Hart); grandchildren, Cassandra Gill (Aaron), Josh Carrion, Caiden Robinson, Sophia Carrion, Isabel Carrion, Calli Robinson, and Remy Hart; great-granddaughter, Bailee Gill; brothers, Jerry Wexstten (Ann), Bob Wexstten (Pam Pugh); numerous nieces, nephews, and life-long friends.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. A Memorial Service will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Victor K. Long and Reverend Stacy Tate officiating. Inurnment will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens Chapel in Woodlawn, Illinois. Memorials made be made in Justice Wexstten’s honor to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. His final gift in parting this world was the donation of himself to research for others. Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
