JAMES CAMPBELL McLEAN

James Campbell McLean, 98, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at the Rainy River Health Centre in Rainy River, Ont.
Jim was born Dec. 17, 1914 in Brigden, Ont, the third of six children of Sarah (nee Campbell) and John Francis “Frank” McLean.
He spent the first nine years of his childhood in Brigden. His many memories included his family surviving the Spanish ’flu epidemic of 1918-19, moving to Rainy River in 1924, and then to Harris Hill in 1926.
He did not have a long formal education, being held back initially so he could attend school with his younger brother, Ken. He left school around Grade 8 to begin working.
He worked in logging, which was done with horses at the time. He also did commercial fishing on Lake of the Woods with his younger brothers, Ross and Ken, although he admitted that in his younger days, he preferred riding around on ponies to riding in a boat.
His oldest brother, Hubert, did not return from WWII, but the rest of the family continued to live in Harris Hill.
Jim met his wife, Ellen (Lamb), when she came to teach school at the one-room schoolhouse (Spohn #2) in Harris Hill. They were married Aug. 7, 1958 in Rainy River. They raised six children, on a small farm, initially down Kreger Road in Harris Hill, then west of Bergland.
Although he had some physical limitations due to a back injury, and had to wear braces to support weakened muscles in his lower legs, much of his time was spent cutting wood for heating and cooking, growing food, and raising livestock to sustain a family.
Jim enjoyed reading, playing cribbage, and watching hockey on TV. He also loved to spend time visiting with family, friends, and neighbours. People always knew they were welcome to stop by for a cup of coffee at any time.
Jim and Ellen were active in the Bergland Senior Citizens Club, though Jim was saddened to outlive many of his card-playing partners.
After his wife’s death in 1996, Jim continued to live in his home alone, with the support and companionship of family and friends, especially neighbours, Oswald Trapness and Allan Johnson.
Following his stroke in 2007, Jim was cared for at Rainy River Health Centre.
Jim is predeceased by his wife of 38 years, Ellen; brothers, Hubert and Clarence “Ken” McLean; sisters and brothers-in-law, Annabelle “Anne” (Albert) Kreger and Violet (John) Nicholas; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jack (Helen) Lamb, Eileen Lamb, and Art (Daisy) Lamb.
He is survived by his children, Nancy (Larry) Gamache, Mary (Ron) O’Connor, Dorothy (Terry) Sharp, Tom McLean, Katherine (Jerome) Delorme, and Judy (Gene) Piasta; grandchildren, Sarah and Hannah Gamache, Lori, Jonathan, Ryan (Marion), Patricia, and Emily O’Connor, Byron and Alexis Sharp, Lindsy, Casey, and Adrienne McLean, Breanne, Gabrielle, and Riley Delorme, and Halee and Brooklyn Piasta; and one great-grandchild, Sierra O’Connor.
He also is survived by his youngest brother, Ross (Ruth) McLean; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Anna Marie Lamb, Andy Lamb, and Gordon (Susan) Lamb; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were held Monday, June 17, 2013 at the Covenant Church in Rainy River, with Lay Pastor Carolyn Kreger officiating.
Interment at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Rainy River.
The pallbearers were Jon O’Connor, Ryan O’Connor, Byron Sharp, Robert Kreger, Don Nicholas, and Marty Kreger.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Rainy River Health Centre, Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the charity of choice c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com