James "Jim" Frederick Mcleod

Forever treasured memories of

James "Jim" Frederick McLeod

February, 23, 1944 - August 19, 2023

James Frederick McLeod, in his 79th year, peacefully joined his Lord and Saviour on August 19, 2023. He was surrounded by loving family and friends who walked with him until the end and will hold him forever in their memories and hearts.

Jim was born in Parkhill, Ontario, on February 23, 1944 to proud parents James Alexander McLeod and Gertrude Elizabeth (Mathers) McLeod. Jim adored his one sibling, his sister Donna May Ford (Robert). He often mentioned that they never had spoken a cross word to each other or had an argument.

In 1953, Jim's family moved from Parkhill to Sarnia, Ontario. This move was quite an adjustment for him as he was in a strange city with no other extended family members.

Little did Jim know that this move would end up leading him to the love of his life - Lynn Julie (Beauchamp) McLeod, who he met on a cold winter's night in 1961 at a bowling alley. Jim and Lynn remained devoted and committed to each other for 60 years, having celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on August 16, 2023.

The roots of the family tree that began with the love of these two hearts run deep. Adored by his four daughters - Julie Elizabeth Patterson (Scott), Lisa Anne Dickert, Christine Marie McLeod, and Monica Lynn Hart (Scott) - Jim played an instrumental role in their lives and will be remembered as the first man they ever loved. His grandchildren - Brittney and Danielle, Christopher and Cassandra, and Hayden - as well as his seven great-grandchildren - Sloane, Cole and Klein, Riley and Vann, Nathan and Liam - will continue to strengthen the roots of their own family trees, remembering the seed from which it all began. Jim also will be remembered fondly by many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and family friends.

After graduating in 1962, Jim worked for a short time in a sporting goods store. Early in 1963, he was hired by St. Clair Tobacco, where he worked until 1964. He then secured a job at Polymer Corporation, working first on the labour gang and then in the research and development lab. In 1973, he applied for a job with Canada Immigration at the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ontario, where he worked for two years. He then moved to Woodstock with his wife and daughters, working as an immigration counsellor and enforcement officer. In 1998, Jim took early retirement and opened his own immigration consulting business, which he operated until September 2019. In total, he helped people immigrate to Canada and did enforcement work for a total of 46 years. He is remembered as an honest, respected man of integrity by colleagues and clients. Jim took the job of providing for his family very seriously and spoke with pride about never having been unemployed. Hard work and dedication were highly valued by him throughout his life.

Jim had a passion for following politics. It did not take long for the staff of Woodingford Lodge in Woodstock, Ontario, to acknowledge him as the news anchor of Mapleview (the wing in which he resided). Jim also enjoyed gardening, going to pick seasonal fruit with his wife and daughters, and making freezer jam. His children often coaxed him into letting them have more of "Jim's jam", even going home with jars that he had planned to eat himself. Jim followed Canadian sports teams (hockey and baseball) and loved to watch his grandchildren as they participated in a variety of sports. He and his wife spent many hours contentedly and leisurely wandering around thrift and antique stores as well as looking for treasures at yard sales. He'd speak of enjoying Saturday morning breakfasts with his wife, daughters, their spouses, and his grandchildren. He also attended every single Mathers family reunion, never missing a single one in 50 years!

When preparing his biographical information for Woodingford Lodge, Jim was asked to share some words of wisdom. Without hesitation, he shared the following:

"Enjoy precious time with family. Say I love you often to the loved ones in your life. Strive to never end a day with anger in your heart. Enjoy each day you are given. Hold hands, comfort one another, love, talk, laugh, and do the difficult work of weathering life's storms together."

Holding these words of wisdom close to their hearts, Jim's family wishes to receive relatives and friends at Brock and Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Avenue, Woodstock, Ontario, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, for a visitation beginning at 10:00 am followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am. Following this service, they invite family and friends to hold hands, comfort one another, talk, laugh, and share stories as we enjoy lunch together. A burial service will then be held at Parkhill Cemetery, 229 Parkhill Main Street, Parkhill, Ontario, for those who wish to join the family.

Donations in Jim's memory can be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Canadian Cancer Society, or The Alzheimer's Society.