JAMES WALKER WOOD

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JAMES WALKER WOOD Peacefully on Sunday, January 9, 2011 Jimmy passed away at Oakview Place Personal Care Home at the age of 90 years. Jimmy will be missed and remembered by son Eric (June) Wood; daughters Hazel (Kirk) Hanson and Moira (David) Jaskierny; many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; in-laws and good friends. On October 26, 1920 Jimmy was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, to George and Isabella Wood. He enlisted in the British 8th Army in 1939 and served as a Desert Rat with the Royal Engineers in North Africa. He was severely wounded in 1942 in the Battle of El Alamein under General Montgomery and was hospitalized for over 18 months. He was a very proud veteran, a genuine member of the greatest generation that ever lived who maintained that can do attitude for 90 years. Jimmy married Jessie (Dolly) Stewart on February 17, 1945. He began work as an upholsterer/undertaker but the work was not steady and he wanted a more secure future for his growing young family. In search of a new beginning he left to join his brother Doug in Winnipeg, Canada in December 1952. His family joined him in April 1953. Jimmy and Dolly settled in St. James/Assiniboia and worked hard to establish a life together. In their later years they enjoyed many family get-togethers, walking to Unicity Mall for coffee, visits to Eric's Lake Winnipeg cottage and trips to Nebraska to see Moira. He applied to be a policeman with the Winnipeg Police Service but due to his injured leg he was hired as a caretaker and eventually worked his way up to Maintenance Superintendent. Jimmy was very active with the Policeman's Association serving on the executive and hosting visiting emissaries. He retired in 1980. After Dolly's death in 1992 he met Olga Markus (nee Yaremchuk) whom he married November 27, 1993. Jimmy was very happy to enlarge his family circle to include Olga's children, Adele (Ken) Duguid, Ted (Jeannette) Markus and grandchildren. They took many wonderful trips together including several extended stays in Hawaii. After Olga passed away in 2009 he kept busy with the legion, and visits with family. Jim made friends easily and kept them for life. He was always ready with a smile, a wave, a good story or a corny joke. He enjoyed curling, golfing, dancing, and rarely missed a meat draw. Jimmy was an accomplished musician who frequently entertained at functions playing the harmonica (sometimes through his nose) and singing. His rendition of The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen would bring a hush to a room and a tear to many an eye. On Tuesday, January 18, 2011 a gathering to Celebrate James' Life will be held from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the #283 Army Navy Air Force Veterans Club, 3584 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a charity of choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 15, 2011