Gerry William Elrath James

In Loving Memory of

Gerry William Elrath James

1951 – 2016

Gerry William Elrath James was born at Grandview, Manitoba on July 13, 1951 to Elrath and Johnina James who farmed and resided about eleven miles west of Grandview.  His father, who had worked for Canadian National Railways as a fireman, came from north of Toronto, to Dauphin, Manitoba after serving in England and France in WWI.  It was in the Dauphin area that Gerry's parents met and married.  His mother, Johnina Turnbull, was the daughter of Scotch-English immigrants who came first to Wales, North Dakota, and then to Toutes Aides, Manitoba, before settling near Ochre River.

Gerry was the third and youngest of only three children; the “caboose” of the family.  He was almost twenty years younger than his only brother, Norman; eighteen years younger than their sister, Irene, and his parents were already middle aged.  Just the same, there was definitely a strong bond between him and the rest of his family.

From early in life, Gerry had a hearing disability that was attributed to his having had measles as a small child.  Diminished hearing probably affected how he learned to speak, and although he was provided with a hearing aid and speech therapy, it probably wasn't early enough to correct the difficulty.  As a boy, he seldom wore the aid, and certainly was hindered in communicating with others, especially those who were not acquainted with his pronunciation.  However, his eyesight was keen, and he often was the one to find an item lost in the grass or gravel.

Gerry attended his first years of school in Grandview, where his parents had moved in 1957, shortly after his father's diagnosis with lung cancer.   Later he attended the Dr. Wright School in Dauphin; but he seemed to love most the opportunities to return to the farm, which Norman had taken over, and he frequently rode the “Greyhound” to the farm, even at a young age.  Later, as he left his school years behind, his mother delivered him to the farm daily from Monday to Saturday, retrieving him at the end of the day, unless Norman found time to take him home.  Yet later, he managed to get a driver's license himself, and after that he enjoyed a new independence.

Gerry enjoyed hunting; first with a slingshot, but graduating to a pellet gun, “twenty-two”, and higher power rifles as he grew older.  He was an avid trapper, and spent many hours along the Munson Creek, and other places, setting and checking his traps for beaver, mink, otter, muscrat, fox, coyote and wolves, after which he could be found skinning and stretching his catch.  He learned many of the needed skills from an older neighbor and friend, Dale Aitken.  Often his nephews accompanied him, but as they grew up he spent an increasing amount of time with Dale.  Early in 1992, his mother was admitted to hospital, and later to the Grandview Personal Care Home.  Gerry lived alone for a time, but then, due to declining health, Dale moved into Gerry's house, and they batched together.

Gerry helped Norman and his boys on the farm for many years; doing field work and choring the hogs and cattle, hauling and stacking bales, building fences, cutting rails, picking stones and roots, and assisting with countless other jobs around the farm.  He also helped his mother with the garden and yard work, as well as with other odd jobs around home.  He sometimes assisted elderly neighbors with odd jobs, as well.  He usually was a willing helper when something was going on, despite his limitations.  The desire to help was still present to the end of life; noticed by both “Hero Club” and “Crocus Court” staff, though certainly his failing health had hugely reduced what he could do.

By the later seventies Gerry had acquired some cattle and developed the notion that he wanted to farm on his own.  Frequently accompanied by Dale Aitken, he built corrals, and with assistance and financial help from his mother, set up his own yard. He also took over farming some of the land that his mother owned, and that Norman had been farming.  He and Dale helped each other, and though they may not have always generated a lot of money, they certainly were doing what they wanted to do. 

Gerry didn't often travel away from Grandview, but occasionally he went with his mother to Regina to spend a few days with Irene, and when she and her family came to Grandview,  a trip to Lake Dauphin, or one of the lakes in the Duck or Riding Mountains was usually scheduled.  During his teen years he also spent time swimming in the Valley River, and he certainly spent considerable time with his friend, Bruce McLaren, sometimes accompanying the McLarens on outings.

Gerry lost his father to lung cancer when he was only nine, and he never got to know many of his father's family, most of who lived at Pefferlaw, Ontario, and in the surrounding area.  Some of his mother's family lived in the Dauphin region, so there were occasional visits with grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.  After she was widowed, his grandmother sometimes came to spend a few days with Nina and Gerry.  Turnbull family gatherings at Rainbow Beach and a few other locations through the years were a highlight.

Close to ten years ago, Gerry moved from Grandview to Roblin, where he had an apartment in the Roblin Residence.  He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia a few years prior, and that, together with a number of other health problems resulted in his being on a lot of medication.  Garry was fortunate to be able to attend the Hero Club regularly, where he made a new circle of friends.  For a time he worked at the recycling depot, until two to three years ago when he was diagnosed with leukemia, which resulted in ongoing cancer treatment.  With his quality of life declining further, consideration was given to Gerry moving into a personal care home.  He was admitted to Crocus Court, Roblin, on respite in November of 2015, and permanently in January 2016.  Though his illnesses took a huge toll on his quality of life, he was accepting and resigned to his lot.  It was hard for him to communicate with others, but he was usually content to sit and watch what was going on.  Occasionally he would move something out of the way for someone, or in some other small way display his inherent inclination to help out.

Gerry was transferred to the Roblin and District Hospital on February twelfth, and passed away there early the following morning. 

He is survived by one sister-in-law, Margaret James of Roblin; twelve nephews and nieces and their families; a number of cousins, extended family, and friends.  He was predeceased by his father in 1960, a nephew, Ryan James in 1967, his mother in 1993, his brother Norman in 2010, and his sister Irene in November of 2015.

Gerry’s Funeral Service was held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Nairn-Chyz Funeral Home in Roblin, officiated by Minister Stuart Isaac.  The Mennonite singers led the congregational hymns; “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “Meet Me There”.  A quartet performed “Would We Truly Long For Heaven”.  Barry James read the obituary and Calvin James and Bernice Toews shared some memories of Gerry.  Following the Funeral Service, a reception for family and friends was held in the Chapel of Nairn-Chyz Funeral Home.

Following the reception, the Casket Bearers; Deegan James, Gavin James, Colby James, Peter Reimer, Rawlin James, Bernard Hyra and Joel Bartel carried Gerry to his final resting place in Grandview District Cemetery.  He was laid to rest next to his nephew, Ryan James.

As a family, we would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all those who assisted Gerry, making special mention of: his proctors, the Hero Club staff, Home-Care staff, the Crocus Court staff, and Drs. Aziz, Elraheb, Sandhu, and Chal Chal and their assistants.  Thank-you for the important places you filled, and especially for the times you went beyond what your job description required.

NAIRN-CHYZ FUNERAL HOME

Entrusted with Arrangements

Roblin’s Only Locally Owned

and Family Operated Funeral Home

(204) 937-2111

nairn-chyzfuneralhome.com