A cherished son, brother, friend, husband, pastor, father, and grandpa, passed away peacefully at Royal Jubilee Hospital on April 18, 2012 after suffering a devastating and unforeseen cardiac arrest one week prior. He was surrounded by family and there was a sense of love and peace in the room as he took his final breaths and went to meet his Maker. Born March 25, 1950 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jim grew up in Portage La Prairie, Winnipeg, and Carberry, Manitoba. The third of six children, at the age of 11, he lost sister, Valerie and parents, Gordon Barss and Beatrice Barss (nee Pierce) in a tragic car accident involving almost the entire family. In 1976, he and his sisters were deeply saddened by the premature death of their much loved brother, Chuck Barss. Jim married the love of his life, Patricia Stokke, in 1972 and the two would have celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary on April 29, 2012. He loved talking with family and friends, going for coffee, watching sports, doing crosswords, playing scrabble, baking, singing and listening to music, devouring sweets, walking Butchart Gardens, helping people through tough times, and bragging about his family. Jim’s greatest joy in his final years was the birth of his granddaughters, Maryjane and Laureena, whom he would call daily. He is lovingly remembered by wife, Pat; sisters, Bev, Patti (David) and Barb (Mike); son, Tim (Erica); granddaughters, Maryjane and Laureena; nephews and nieces, Colleen, Michael, Kevin, Jenna, Sean, Nicole, Aaron, Robyn, and Jennifer and a host of loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Parkdale Church, 1095 Tolmie Ave, at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 22. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
15 Responses
Big Jim see you in heaven!
Thank you very much for being nice to me.
Your old friend in JAPAN.
Jim was a true friend
Sorry to read in the Winnipeg Free Press of Jim’s passing. I attended high school with Jim in Carberry when he lived there. I’ve thought of him over the years since, and often wondered what became of him. Even as a teenager, Jim was a kind and caring individual always interested in others. Condolences to the family.
sorry to read of Jim’s passing. HIs dad and my mother were cousins and I remember visits with the family when we were all kids.
i still remember the tragic accident that took his parents and sister. Too bad we have not been able to keep in toudh over the years.
condolances to the whole family
While we met Jim and Pat but a few times at Trinity, we loved them right away and grieve with Pat and her family in their sudden loss. May the Lord hold them in his loving arms. God bless you.