It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic death of our parents, James Robert and Theodora Isaac (nee Zrobok), as a result of a traffic accident on the way to Thunder Bay on Monday, Aug. 14, 2006.
They had lived in Winnipeg for the last 56 years and were to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Dec. 17, 2006.
James was born in Eston, Sask. on Jan. 28, 1923. He then spent most of his childhood in Edmonton, Alta., where he learned to play golf at an early age and never looked back.
For most of his life he was a scratch golfer. He played in, and won, many championships at Pine Ridge, Elmhurst, Kenora, and for many years at St. Charles. He even designed a golf course for the people of Eston.
He loved sports, and participated in, watched, and discussed sports of all kinds.
He joined the army and was in the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers in WW II. After returning from the war, he became a mechanic in Ottawa, Ont. and began his 50-year career in the car business.
It was here that he met Doris. On Dec.17, 1946, they were married and then moved to Winnipeg, Man.
For 41 years, he worked at Dickson Motors and McNaught Motors working his way from mechanic to service manager, into sales, and was known as “Mr. Cadillac” because of his dealings with his Cadillac customers, and retired as lease manager in 1991.
He also enjoyed woodworking and carpentry, and shared this talent with his children, Bob and Mary-Alice.
Jim was predeceased by his parents, Leslie and Alice; sister, Patricia and her husband, Jack Newmann; and brother, William.
He is survived by his son, Robert, and wife, Lynn Isaac, of Calgary, Alta., and their children, Lisa and Christopher MacKay, and grandchildren, Logan and Harrison; and daughter, Mary-Alice of Thunder Bay, Ont.
Also surviving are his brother, Jack, and sister-in-law, Doris, of Portage La Prairie, Man.; sister-in-law, Victoria of Montreal, Que.); nephews, Brett (Michel) of Montreal, Que.,Craig (Pamela) of Charlotte, N.C., Randall (Nadia) of Vancouver, B.C., Gary of Montreal, Que., and John (Cathy) of Winnipeg, Man.; cousin, Doreen Ferraton; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Theodora (Doris) was born in Kenora, Ont. on Nov. 17, 1918. She lived and was educated there. After graduating, she worked at the Kenora Hospital and then she and her sister, Eva, moved to Ottawa in 1941, where she worked as a medical secretary at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.
While in Ottawa, she met Jim and he became the love of her life, marrying on Dec. 17, 1946 and living happily with him for 60 years.
After moving from Ottawa to Winnipeg, she began working at Dickson Motors as a secretary. She remained there when it changed to McNaught Motors and became Mr. McNaught’s personal secretary until she retired at age 70.
Doris was an avid reader and always was learning new facts from clippings, newspapers, books, and educational material. Her family was the most important part of her life and she devoted her time and energy to her husband, Jim, son, Bob, and daughter, Mary-Alice.
Doris also loved nature, and always was very interested in the birds and animals at the cottage at Black Sturgeon Lake in Kenora. For 40 years she enjoyed the peace and tranquility of our beautiful cottage surroundings.
She was proud to be Ukrainian, proud to be named after her father, Theodore, and fiercely proud to be Canadian.
Doris was predeceased by her parents, Theodore (Fred) and Sennie Zrobok; brother, Alex, and his wife, Dorothy; brother, Peter and his wife, Mary; brother-in-law, Des Fleurie; brother, Nestor (Casey); sister, Adeline and her husband, Peter Hoshwa; and sister, Mary, and her husband, Steven Romano.
She is survived by her son, Bob and his wife, Lynn; daughter, Mary-Alice; sisters, Eva Fleurie of Fort Frances, Ont., Lina (John) Rankin of Winnipeg, Man., and Jo-Ann Zrobok of Kenora, Ont.; sister-in-law, Bertha Zroback of Kenora, Ont.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Prayers for Jim and Doris were held Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006 at 7 p.m. in Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivrary Blvd., Winnipeg.
A memorial service took place Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006 at 1 p.m. in St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Winnipeg (corner of Stafford and Corydon).
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Victoria Hospital Foundation, Arthritis Society, or a charity of your choice.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
