JAMES F. BESANT (JIM)

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JAMES F. BESANT
December 13, 1937 - April 12, 2019

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of James Francis Besant, 81. Jim slipped away quietly on April 12, 2019, after a long struggle with the after-effects of a devastating stroke.
He will be forever remembered by his son Kevin (Tammy); and daughter Tricia (Jean-Francois); his brothers, Dave and Bob; grandchildren, Samara and Logan, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Jim was predeceased by his parents, Catherine and Louis; his sister Pat; and by his beloved wife Marlene, who was a shining beacon in his life. They are together again at long last.
Jim was a loyal civil servant working as a purchasing agent for Government of Canada for over 25 years. Jim was vigilant and punctual. Despite not being able to drive due to his vision and having to take two or even three busses to get to work, Jim was usually the first one at the office on snow days. He rarely, if ever missed a day of work. Part of this was due to his loyalty to his wife and children as provider for the family, and the other part was that he couldn't stand being late. His children often tested this resolve.
In retirement, Jim had the chance to focus on his personal interests which included football, golf and specifically college basketball. He was an armchair geography buff who seemed to know something about every location on Planet Earth, despite being not particularly well travelled himself. He was always reading geography books and gazing for extended periods of time at maps and atlases. Jim enjoyed walking and browsing. He would take the transit bus somewhere every day, even in retirement. If he had his bus pass, he had his freedom. This is what he enjoyed.
After his stroke, Jim Besant displayed a personal reserve of strength and courage that seemed limitless. His most effective coping mechanism was his sense of humour and on the darkest days, Jim found the ability to take his mind and the minds of those around him elsewhere by delivering a joke. His resolve to remain tremendously positive throughout the years after his stroke will have a lasting impact on all those who knew him, especially his son Kevin.
Special thanks from the family goes to Karen. Sing on!
Please donate to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
A private interment and celebration of Jim's life to be held in July for friends and family.

Adversity is the diamond dust
Heaven polishes its jewels with.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 27, 2019