JIM STEEL Tribute

ABOUT THIS PAGE...

Anyone who knew him knows Jim Steel was larger than life and truly one of a kind. He was many things to many people and Scribbles holds a special place in our hearts for Jim, who constantly praised my efforts after a new edition was posted. 

Given all this, it seems only natural that we would devote a page to Jim Steel. This page can easily be accessed anytime. Just look below our logo and friends banner at the top of our site. There is a list of unique Scribbles pages. At the end of the list you will see 'Jim Steel' (conveniently located beside his buddy Joe Friday's own page), which we debuted several years ago. 

This way anytime you wish to revisit our tribute to Jim, it's easy to do. And whenever we add a new post pertaining to Jim, it will also be added to this special page.
-------  ORIGINALLY POSTED FEB. 6, 2023 ------









OBITUARY -ROBERT JAMES STEEL (JIM STEEL)  

We are saddened to announce the sudden passing of Robert James (Jim) Steel on Saturday, February 4th at the age of 78. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Maria and his parents Ted and Myrtle. He will be missed by his daughters Catharine (Jim), Carolyn (Tim), his grandchildren Robert (Melissa), Callum (Sarah), Jessica (Matthew) and his great-granddaughter Hailey. Also missing him is his companion Diane Christy, his nieces and nephews, and many cousins, especially Ginny Cobley, who was more like a sister. And last but not least his beloved bulldog Joe Friday.

Jim wasn't one to sit still behind a school desk. He left school at a young age to join the Canadian Navy and sailed on the HMCS Madeline during the cold war. After leaving the navy he was employed by Mckinnon Industies (which became General Motors in 1969). He had an unerring sense of what was right and just and became active in the labour movement fighting for better working conditions and fair wages.

Wanting to know more about his paternal grandfather and his roll in the Great War led Jim to became one of Canada's leading experts on the First World War and Canada's role in it. He researched and co-authored four books on the War and was Joseph Boyden's primary consultant in the writing of Three Day Road.

Jim loved life. He was intelligent, and creative. He played the guitar, and painted delightful, irreverent, colourful paintings. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He was one of those rare individuals who knew how to truly listen. He loved his bulldogs, or any dog for that matter. He lived large, loved to laugh, and he had one of the biggest hearts of anyone we knew. Everyone he met, he met with kindness.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Canada Legion, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Community Care or another Charity of Your Choice.

A celebration of life will be held at Royal Canadian Legion, 15 George St. St. Catharines, on Tuesday, February 21st 3-6. "We are stardust."

Published by St. Catharines Standard on Feb. 7, 2023



-------  ORIGINALLY POSTED FEB. 22, 2023 ------