JAMES HOWARD STRIKE

Born in Verdun, QC to Muriel and Howard Strike. He was the oldest of 4 boys and 2 girls.

Left to mourn him are his children, Stephen (Tracey) and Christine (Aaron); his grandchildren, Spencer, Mackenzie, Genevieve and Sefton; his sisters, Laura (Peter) and Maureen (Dan); brother in law Eric; and many nieces and nephews.

His first job was delivering papers when he was 8 or 9. His fascination with model trains began when he got a rhino electric train for Christmas from his Uncle Eddie that he bought accessories for with his paper route money. His grandchildren loved the train that ran around the Christmas village in the bay window on Metz.

He worked at 5th ave dept store after school and would go to Tassie’s cafe/diner on the corner of Wellington and 5th after school and before work, his grandma lived above the cafe.

His first school was St Willibrord’s and he served communion at St Willibrord’s Parish and was proud to talk about his days as an alter boy.

He had a passion for hockey, a true Montreal Canadiens fan. The Rocket Richard and Guy Lafleur among his favourites. He recalled being at the “Richard Riot” in 1955 after Maurice Richard was suspended for the remainder of the season for hitting the linesman. He recalls his Dad telling him to climb up on a nearby statue or light pole and stay there until he got back, where he watched the event unfold.

He was a junior Montreal Canadien, he was so proud of that and loved telling the story of first walking into the dressing room and all the gear was there for them. Beyond hockey he loved to watch most sports but tended toward Golf and Curling with a good sprinkling of CFL and NFL football. I remember many times sitting around the 10 (maybe 12) inch black and white TV in the mid 70s watching Montreal playing on CBC Hockey Night in Canada.

He and his friends were also trouble makers and tells the story of lighting up the very sloped back alley when they poured oil, they slowly saved up, down the back alley and lit it up. The many street hockey games that would end up being the Canadiens playing the Maple Leafs with the Francophones squaring off against the Anglophones.

He started at Northern Electric in Montreal and transferred to Brampton in the data processing dept, didn’t get along with the boss and transferred to the plant floor making sure shipments got out. He loved working with everyone. A friend from Montreal transferred to the data centre and he went back to working there. He bought a triumph before he could drive using his roommate's car to get his license. From Nortel he moved jobs to MacDonald Douglas at the airport and onto Wilson’s Stationary.

During his time at Northern Electric he met his wife Catherine, they were married in 1966. He proposed to her between periods of a Montreal Canadiens hockey game. They moved to a house in Hillsburg where Stephen was born in 1971 and then moved to Winnipeg when his job at Wilson’s Stationary had him transfer in 1973. Christine came along in 1974 and the family established themselves in St Vital.

Dad was a proud parent and grandparent, always supportive of his children and grandchildren. Known as Grandpa to Spencer and Mackenzie and Papa to Genevieve. He would whisper in Gen’s ear when she was wee, Papa, Papa, Papa. He loved watching his children and grandchildren play sports and coached Stephen at hockey, soccer and football. He built a rink in the back yard and played hockey with the oldtimers.

He was a leader in the community being very involved at Greendell Community Centre. He gave back to the community with his dedication to the club, serving in many positions including president and doing whatever needed to be done including building a rink. He was on the St Vital minor hockey board for many years as well.

He had a passion for fishing, getting up early to head out from Wildcat Island or Beauty Bay. He often talked about his trip to Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories with work and how they could catch master trophy fish on almost every cast right from the dock.

Dad had many jobs in Winnipeg, a true salesman that could spin a tale like no other. Through the 80s he worked with CKY and 92 Citi selling radio advertising time. He moved on from there into selling printing products. In his late 40s early 50s he picked up photography which landed him a job traveling western Canada taking pictures of Golf Courses for Tee Off Magazine. Again, spinning tales to make his way onto the courses and getting them to buy advertising in the magazine. He loved his time on the west coast, especially at Lonsdale Quay. He started his own stationary business for a while before ending his career at Walmart helping stock shelves.

After his retirement he took up painting, taking art classes and trying many styles. In his younger years he was an avid model builder mostly focused on military vehicles, planes and ships and picked it back up during retirement building models and large Lego sets. He had a Lego wish list for a new Flatbed Tow Truck and noted he needed to finish his Lego dump truck when he passed.

Dad enjoyed a few trips down south with a favourite being Florida, making his way to the beach with his chair each morning. On his last trip to Destin, he told stories of sitting on the beach and the great food along the strip and boardwalk.

Dad will be dearly missed, his encouragement and unwavering support, his quiet hmmm hmm, sports trivia, and story telling.

Per Dad’s wishes there won’t be a funeral and internment will take place at a later date at St Vital Cemetery in the garden of remembrance.

Please consider a memorial donations to Cancer Care Manitoba, the Lung Association, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation, all of which help James over the years.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

1833 Portage Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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