James “Jim” P.R. Irwin
12 February 1936 – 30 November 2017
It is with much love and sadness that we announce the death of our dear husband, father, grand and great grandfather. Jim passed away on 30 November 2017 in his 82nd year at the Southampton Care Centre, Southampton. He was the loving and considerate husband of Shirley for 60 years; Jim & Shirley met in Clinton, Ontario, while serving in the R.C.A.F. and were married in Saskatchewan in 1957.
He leaves and is missed by Shirley and their three children and families: Lorna of Guelph, her son Chris (Amanda) and sons Lukas and Nikolas of Port Elgin and her daughter Teale of Toronto; Richard (Sandra) of Port Elgin and their daughters Lisa of Kitchener and Krista (Adam Meyers) and their children Gracelyn and Gavin of New York State; Katherine (Tony Foster) of Edmonton. Jim was a proud and loving father of his children and their accomplishments.
Jim was born in New Liskeard, Ontario. His parents were Richard H. and Vera M. (Watson) Irwin.
Jim was predeceased by his older brother Ross W. Irwin (1985) and wife Joan (Barnes) (2014), Jim’s father (1961) and mother (1995). He is survived by his sister Margaret (Clarence Kobes) of London, Ontario. Also survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews and cousins in Ireland and Australia.
Jim’s work experiences were varied and interesting and took him and his family many places: Quebec, Ontario, Freeport, Bahamas, the North West Territories and then back to Ontario, where he took early retirement from Ontario Hydro in 1993.
Jim’s interests were many and varied. He spent many hours building HO gauge model railcars, was a voracious reader, a handyman and a volunteer. He enjoyed his Probus membership and spent many hours researching and organizing coach trips for the group. He also volunteered at the Bruce County Museum teaching school children about Medieval Times. He was a strong supporter of Shirley and her many volunteer undertakings. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially underwater spear fishing in Freeport, and kept the freezer stocked with grouper and rock lobster. Photography and bridge were also relaxing and enjoyable hobbies to him.
We will miss his ability to recite the poems of Robert Service, Ogden Nash, Watson Kirkconnell, William H. Drummond and others. He spent many enjoyable hours reading and memorizing poetry and was an accomplished punster. He possessed a great warm sense of humour that will be missed by family and friends.
The family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to Dr. F. Veenstra and nurse Kiff for many years of TLC and also to the staff of the Southampton Care Centre and Dr. N. Dickie for his most recent care.
Cremation and family burial arrangements are entrusted to Grey Bruce Cremation and Burial Services, Owen Sound. Please accept this as your invitation to join Jim’s family and friends for a memorial celebration at the Chantry Centre, 35 Grey Street South, Southampton on Wednesday, 13th of December at 2 p.m. for a time of fellowship.
Memorial donations made to the Chantry Centre, the Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario or your favourite charity are appreciated.
Online condolences may be made at www.greybrucecremation.com.