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James (Jim) Switzer
December 20, 1937 - February 16, 2017
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<div itemprop="description">On February 16, 2017, Jim passed away peacefully at the Health Sciences Center after a six-month struggle with esophageal cancer, his wife Sharon Lee (nee Leavens) at his side. <br> <br>Jim was born to Ruth (Gowan) and Stanley Switzer in Carberry, Manitoba, on December 20, 1937, and grew up in the Brookdale area on his Gowan grandparents’ farm until coming to Winnipeg after finishing school in 1954. <br> <br>In 1955 he and Sharon met on a blind date. They connected and married six years later in 1961, eventually having two sons, Cameron James (1965), and Bruce Daniel (1967). <br> <br>Over the years, Jim worked at CPR, MTS and the Manitoba Provincial Government where he met many life-long friends. He especially enjoyed his years in Workplace Safety and Health. Jim retired in 1993. <br> <br>In 1966 Jim became a volunteer fire fighter in the Municipality of North Kildonan until the amalgamation with the City of Winnipeg occurred. Through this volunteer service, he gained many more friends that have been with him through his life. <br> <br>As our sons grew, Jim was actively involved with their sports as assistant coach (hockey) and coach (baseball) at North Kildonan Community Club. He and his buddies also enjoyed hunting and fishing together every fall, as well as snowmobiling in the winter. 1980 to 1997 were “The Cottage Years”. Jim built a cottage at Booster Lake, and through that experience added to his expanding number of great friendships. He took his job as the “Fire Guardian” at the lake, very seriously. <br> <br>After retirement, Jim and Sharon enjoyed many exotic holidays, cruises and land tours, traversing the globe. <br> <br>Golf was also a favourite past-time for Jim during his retirement years. He golfed with eight or nine other retired friends twice a week, enjoying the camaraderie as well as the mutual teasing. <br> <br>Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife Sharon; son Cameron; daughter-in-law Tanya Gidge Switzer; son Dr. Lorne and his wife Carol and their son Conor Clearsky; sister Margaret and her husband Garland Garton; sister Faith and her husband Ray Pacholuk; sister Trudy Winterton; sister-in-law Marion Leavens Laforge; goddaughter Jodie Kehl; numerous nieces, nephews and other family members. <br> <br>Sadly, Jim was predeceased by our son, Bruce Daniel Switzer in July 2016; his mother, Ruth Duncan; Sharon’s parents, Frank and Helen Leavens; Sharon’s brother, Daniel Louis Leavens and more recent brother-in-law Robert (Bob) Laforge; as well as his three nephews James, Harvey and David Garton. <br> <br>A gathering of friends in memory of Jim’s life will be held Thursday, February 23, 2017, at 2:00 pm at Glen Eden Funeral Home & Cemetery, 4477 Main Street, with Reverend Deacon Helen Hunter presiding. <br> <br>Cremation has taken place. Interment will occur at a later date. <br> <br>In lieu of flowers, those who desire, may choose to make a memorial gift to Cancer Care Manitoba, or a charity of their choice. <br> <br></div>