Obituary for James Llewellyn "Jim" Skeoch
SKEOCH, James Llewellyn (Jim)
Passed away peacefully at Dr.Bob Kemp Hospice in Hamilton on Saturday August 29, 2020 at the age of 62. Beloved partner of Morena Stanbury and loving husband of the late Jackie Burgess (2000). Proud father of Michael (Matthew Brownlow), Christopher (Victoria Snable), and Rachel (Andrew Fuller) and survived by their mother Susan Dueckman.
Step-father of Leal Stanbury and Kerris Stanbury.
Cherished grandfather of Dayvon Stanbury.
Dear brother of Iris and Scott Tupholme (Will, Sophie), Robert and Brenda Skeoch (Dustin, Hannah, Heather), Linda and Michael Callaghan (Mitchell, Joshua), and Christine MacDonald
Predeceased by his parents Llewellyn and Irene Skeoch.
Jim was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1958, the second of an eventual family of five children. In 1967, the Skeoch family made the long trip east, by train, to Sudbury, Ontario with their beloved dog, Ginger. Jim joined the Minnow Lake Boy Scouts where he and younger brother Rob soon gathered an impressive array of badges. Life in northern Ontario with its fishing trips, snowmobiling adventures and hockey instilled a life-long affection for the outdoors. Jim attended St. Raphael’s Elementary School and Nelson High School in Burlington. He and Rob both worked at the Red & White grocery store as carry-out boys.
After high school, Jim worked for a year before moving to Waterloo where he completed a degree in Environmental Science, an area in which he would spend most of his career.
Jim welcomed his three children, Mike, Christopher and Rachel with huge love. In mid-career, Jim moved to England where he worked with Can-Ross Environmental, opening up new business in the UK and in Europe. While living in the Midlands, Jim met good friends Nick and Maureen among many others and enjoyed weekend jaunts to nearby village pubs as well as trips to Europe and Ireland. Returning home, Jim bought a cottage on Six Mile Lake where he regularly hosted family and friends for bbqs, fishing trips and water sports. A keen carpenter, he built a huge deck, stairs and docks and was always improving the place named ‘Valhalla’. He particularly enjoyed cruising the lake in the pontoon boat or taking the fishing boat out early in the morning.
Jim always preferred living in the country and was excited to buy a new home in Binbrook with Morena where he continued to host family events, always serving delicious home-cooked meals. In short order, he built a big backyard deck and a new tiki hut and then moved on to create a relaxing casual room, with a bar, downstairs.
Jim was a devoted son to his beloved mother and father, a cherished brother, a loyal nephew and cousin and a father who wanted the best for his children.
Jim was a sociable, fun-loving person who loved to laugh. He was also thoughtful and wise, helping everyone he could. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
A special thank you to the staff at Dr.Bob Kemp Hospice, as well as the Victoria Order of Nurses for their excellent care and compassion.
As per Jim's wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, September 10th at 11 am for close family and relatives only (due to health restrictions). For those who wish, donations in memory for Jim to the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice would be sincerely appreciated by the family.
Jim loved his family and friends, and would have loved for all of us to be together in one place to have a drink, share stories and a laugh. We know in these times that isn’t possible, so to honour Jim, we ask that on Saturday, September 12th at sunset, wherever you happen to be, raise a toast for Jim and share a laugh.
To view the service please copy and paste the link into your browser: www.etherelive.com/jamesskeoch
Passed away peacefully at Dr.Bob Kemp Hospice in Hamilton on Saturday August 29, 2020 at the age of 62. Beloved partner of Morena Stanbury and loving husband of the late Jackie Burgess (2000). Proud father of Michael (Matthew Brownlow), Christopher (Victoria Snable), and Rachel (Andrew Fuller) and survived by their mother Susan Dueckman.
Step-father of Leal Stanbury and Kerris Stanbury.
Cherished grandfather of Dayvon Stanbury.
Dear brother of Iris and Scott Tupholme (Will, Sophie), Robert and Brenda Skeoch (Dustin, Hannah, Heather), Linda and Michael Callaghan (Mitchell, Joshua), and Christine MacDonald
Predeceased by his parents Llewellyn and Irene Skeoch.
Jim was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1958, the second of an eventual family of five children. In 1967, the Skeoch family made the long trip east, by train, to Sudbury, Ontario with their beloved dog, Ginger. Jim joined the Minnow Lake Boy Scouts where he and younger brother Rob soon gathered an impressive array of badges. Life in northern Ontario with its fishing trips, snowmobiling adventures and hockey instilled a life-long affection for the outdoors. Jim attended St. Raphael’s Elementary School and Nelson High School in Burlington. He and Rob both worked at the Red & White grocery store as carry-out boys.
After high school, Jim worked for a year before moving to Waterloo where he completed a degree in Environmental Science, an area in which he would spend most of his career.
Jim welcomed his three children, Mike, Christopher and Rachel with huge love. In mid-career, Jim moved to England where he worked with Can-Ross Environmental, opening up new business in the UK and in Europe. While living in the Midlands, Jim met good friends Nick and Maureen among many others and enjoyed weekend jaunts to nearby village pubs as well as trips to Europe and Ireland. Returning home, Jim bought a cottage on Six Mile Lake where he regularly hosted family and friends for bbqs, fishing trips and water sports. A keen carpenter, he built a huge deck, stairs and docks and was always improving the place named ‘Valhalla’. He particularly enjoyed cruising the lake in the pontoon boat or taking the fishing boat out early in the morning.
Jim always preferred living in the country and was excited to buy a new home in Binbrook with Morena where he continued to host family events, always serving delicious home-cooked meals. In short order, he built a big backyard deck and a new tiki hut and then moved on to create a relaxing casual room, with a bar, downstairs.
Jim was a devoted son to his beloved mother and father, a cherished brother, a loyal nephew and cousin and a father who wanted the best for his children.
Jim was a sociable, fun-loving person who loved to laugh. He was also thoughtful and wise, helping everyone he could. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
A special thank you to the staff at Dr.Bob Kemp Hospice, as well as the Victoria Order of Nurses for their excellent care and compassion.
As per Jim's wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial mass will be held on Thursday, September 10th at 11 am for close family and relatives only (due to health restrictions). For those who wish, donations in memory for Jim to the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice would be sincerely appreciated by the family.
Jim loved his family and friends, and would have loved for all of us to be together in one place to have a drink, share stories and a laugh. We know in these times that isn’t possible, so to honour Jim, we ask that on Saturday, September 12th at sunset, wherever you happen to be, raise a toast for Jim and share a laugh.
To view the service please copy and paste the link into your browser: www.etherelive.com/jamesskeoch