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Jim lost his 10-year battle to Glioblastoma Brain Cancer July 20th, 2020 at the age of 69.  

He was predeceased by parents, Margaret & Vernon North; and will lovingly be remembered by his wife of 44 years, Lynn; children, Jaimie Bristow (Ryan), Adam North (Tara Mann), and Nick North (Mignon); treasured grandchildren, Sofia, Kacie, Theo, Layla, James and Hamza; sisters, Wendy Waggoner (Ed) and Marni Loewen (LaVern); sisters in law, Andrea Santa (Larry), Grace Yaremko (Brent Kurz) and Laura Biberdorf; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was born December 29, 1950 in Brandon Manitoba. He spent his early years in Regina, then moved to Winnipeg where he attended Kelvin High and then University of Manitoba, obtaining his BPE/Education degree (74). He taught briefly in the Pas but returned to Winnipeg in 1975 to join North Associates as a partner in the family business.

Jim & Lynn married in 1976 and began raising their family in St. James. They moved to Burlington, Ontario in 1991, returned to Winnipeg and settled in Charleswood in 1996, and pursued a new business venture as a franchise owner of Ranger Insurance. In 2005 they started LNJ Medical and developed this company until 2010 when Jim was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. The business was continued with the help of his sons, Adam and Nick.
 

Jim outlived his initial prognosis of 18 months with courage and dignity.

Jim was a man of honesty, integrity and an inner strength that carried him through the challenges in his life. He lived & led by example. Never once during his 10-year struggle did he speak of or complain of his illness. He was a man of his word and a gentleman in every sense. He was a devoted husband and father, sharing his passion for sports and music by coaching & supporting all their athletic & academic activities, and encouraging them to be the best they could be.

Jim's first great love was family, but his close second was hockey - from skating on the Waskana Creek to playing with the St. Boniface Mohawks, the Manitoba Bisons, the (early) Winnipeg Jets, and with his "old timer" teams; coaching at professional training camps, at hockey schools throughout Manitoba and Ontario and especially coaching his son's Shaftesbury High School team with friend Doug Fraser.
 

When hockey season ended, there was golf - and particularly his cherished, long time golf buddies who would tee off every Saturday at 6 am, rain or shine, a 40-year tradition that still continues.
 

Throughout there was music - the guitar was his constant and long-time companion (next to Lynn). He could play almost anything you could hum and would sing seamlessly for hours knowing all the words. He played often for family and friends and was at ease on any stage. As a child he performed small parts in numerous productions on Rainbow Stage and in later years had great fun with the Shoestring Players Theatre Group performing at the Fringe and other festivals.  
 

Good times with friends and family, driving - across Canada and the US, Palm Springs, coffee in hand, singing in the car, ski trips, the sound of his guitar, and always, always his warm smile.
 

We cherish the memories.
 

Many thanks to our friends and family whose support and love made the past 10 years possible. It does "take a village". It really, really does "take a village".

Jim’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by watching the photo-biography above. They also encourage the sharing of photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

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A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to can be made to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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