Loving husband, father and grandpa, James (Jim) Bernard Walchuk, passed away quietly in the evening on Sunday, April 18th, at the Aspirus Ontonagon Long Term Care unit, after a courageous four year battle with cancer.

Jim was the youngest child of six, born to Peter and Pearl Wolchuk, in St. Ignatious, Montana during the summer of 1946. He grew up on the family farm near Round Butte in Ronan, Montana, where Jim learned his hard work ethic and how to "Fix" everything out of necessity.

At the age of 14, Jim and his older brother Joe, moved to Missoula, Montana with his parents, where he attended Hellgate High-school. After graduating in 1964, Jim applied to and was accepted at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, where he pursued a degree in Mathematics. It was here that he met his wife to be, Susan. An unlikely couple, California girl-Montana farm boy, they were married in August of 1968 after both had graduated from Carroll. They began their lives together in Willow Creek, Montana, where Jim taught 7th-12th grade math and science, was a basketball score keeper, and took turns driving the only bus, at the local school. In the meantime, Sue was settling with the new home and preparing to raise a family.

In the fall of 1970, their family started with the birth of a son, Brent. Within a year, they moved to Laramie, Wyoming. Jim went back to school and received a Masters degree in chemistry, while also working local construction to support the new family.

In 1972, the family moved to Missoula where Jim began work at the Horner Waldorf (later Champion International) paper mill as a process engineer. It was then that the couple learned their second child was on the way. The family grew to four in October of that year when Brian was born. Now it was time to search for a more permanent home, so in 1973 a small ranch style house on 34th street became the new family homestead.

Jim and Sue were well received in their new neighborhood and soon the house was full of all the local kids. Many friends were made, including Harry Brunett, with whom many adventures and hunting trips to "The Cabin," (tube sledding run included) helped foster a love of the outdoors for the whole family including hunting, archery, camping, fishing, and ice fishing. Bowling and many other social activities were the norm, all except golf, which according to Jim was "the stupidest sport ever created." This comment would come back to him years later.

Seven years went by before the family didn't quite feel full enough. So in March of 1979, Christine was born and the family was complete. Missoula continued to be home until 1983 when a job promotion to Technical Director uprooted the family and set them down on the shores of Lake Superior in Ontonagon, MI.

It was here, that the family really grew and became part of the community. As the children became interested in local sports, Jim began his involvement in the community, first as a member of the hockey association, then a Zamboni driver, a hockey coach, and skate sharpener. Jim always needed to keep busy whether around the house, at work, or in the community. As the kids interest moved from hockey to golf so did Jim's involvement.

"The stupidest sport ever created" took hold of Jim and he never looked back. He eventually became the president of the Ontonagon Golf Club, and would spend time creating tournament scoring programs and helping others with any part of the game that he could. Jim and Sue spent many years actively chasing that little white ball around while their kids grew and started adding families of their own.

The first addition was a daughter-in-law, Marti, in the summer of 1993, followed by another daughter-in-law, Justine, in 1998. A son-in-law, Joe, was added in 2002. Jim became "Grandpa" for the first time in 1996, then five more times over the next 9 years. Many great memories were made as family time was spent on the beach, in the lake, and around camp fires.

There were also wonderful and lasting memories (banged-up knuckles included) from all the projects and help when he would come to visit each of the kids in their homes around the country. Many roofs, bathrooms, kitchens, walls, plumbing, wiring, and landscaping projects were completed under his helpful supervision.

Family and friends describe Jim, as a "wonderful and sincere family man, with a great mind and a knack for solving problems and fixing anything around the house, garage, paper mill, you name it." He was "a well respected and valued colleague, mentor and friend," and "the type of person that was always willing to lend a hand."

In 2006, Jim began his battle with cancer that eventually took him from us much too early. Jim will forever be remembered by those that survive him, including his wife of 41 years, Susan, three children and their respective spouses, Brent (Marti), Brian (Justine) and Christine (Joseph), along with his six grandchildren Donovan, Spenser, Elizabeth, Logan, Kyle and Jordan, his brothers and sister, Leo (Mae), Joseph (Susan) and Lillian, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Jim was predeceased by his mother, father, two brothers, Tommy and Tony, and one nephew, Mickey.

A Celebration of Jim's life will be held on Friday, April 23, at 11 a.m., at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Ontonagon. Freinds may call at the church 1 hour prior to the start of the service.

Jim's Family suggests that memorial contributions may be forwarded to the Hope Lodge in Marshfield Wisconsin at the address below, or to the charity/organization of the donor's choice.

American Cancer Society Hope Lodge 611 W. Doege Street Marshfield, WI 54449