JAMES “JIM” NORMAN BOYACHEK
November 13, 1954 to August 3, 2024
In the early morning hours of August 3, 2024, Jim Boyachek (aged 69) passed away at his home with family in attendance.
Jim is survived by his wife Sandra (Hogaboam) and their daughter Charlene, grandsons Hudson and Hanley Boak and their father Sean Boak. Also, brother Owen, sister Ellie (Russ Adams and son Billy), and brother Alex (son Travis Lewadniuk).
Survived by brother-in-law Garry Hunt, his daughters Tanis (Mike) Shackleford and Danna (Todd) Collins and children Brooke and Hayden Collins; brother-in-law Allan Garrioch, his daughter Jodi Garrioch (Dean Gal) and son Dan (Connie) and their sons Ethan, Connor (Marci and Clarissa), and Jordan.
Survived by his sister-in-law Patti and husband Ed Hiebert who were at our beck and call, lending helping hands and doing it all just the way Jim liked. Thank you for everything!
Jim was predeceased by his parents Daniel (1998) and Margaret (Tickle) (2014); as well as sisters Janet Hunt (2016) and Ruth Garrioch (2020).
Jim was born November 13, 1954, three days later than his twin sister Jan. He always told us that he got tired of her talking and kicked her out… That was Jim’s quirky sense of humour.
Jim and Sandy met at Arthur Meighen High School. They were married December 6, 1986 in Oakville, Manitoba. Next year, they welcomed daughter Charlene. Despite both working full time, they always had time to take Charlene camping, boating, visiting relatives or enjoying the beach. Sandy always provided exceptional care to Jim, ensuring he was well looked after and certainly well fed!
During his lifetime Jim had many occupations. After high school, he worked at a window factory in Winnipeg. This is where his pranking career started; screwing his coworker’s metal lunch bucket to the lunch table.
He worked for many heavy construction firms throughout the years but remained the longest at E.F. Moon Construction as an operator. Even while working on major projects like the Dixon Dam (AB), he ensured there was time for fun and mischief with coworkers.
Next, he drove big rigs with Day & Ross across Canada and USA. He used to count how many States he had been to and marveled at the opportunity to see so many parts of North America.
His final job was at the RM of Portage la Prairie where he operated just about everything. He loved the big equipment and loved to show off his skills. Due to struggles with COPD, he retired.
Our family would like to thank Jim’s friends and family who stuck by him during his struggle with COPD, entertaining him with visits and bringing him pickerel, saskatoons, asparagus, garlic and other favourite items. Jim made and kept many long-time friends and never tired of the opportunity to visit with them. He appreciated all the chats with nieces and nephews too.
Jim was very mechanically inclined and spent hours tinkering in the shop. He had a healthy obsession with old Willys Jeeps; buying, fixing and selling many. He could ‘rescue’ an old heap out of the bush that had not been touched since 1960 and have it running in an afternoon. He frequently used to park his collection in a nice line-up facing the highway; not to sell them, but just to show them off. He always said, “He who dies with the most ‘inventory’ wins”. We think he’ claim that award for sure!
He was exceptionally talented with converting slow things to fast things. He loved to rip around on snowmobiles, whether it was all-day trail rides or heart-pounding racing. Though he considered only Arctic Cat the best, he made an exception for nephew Mike’s Polaris racing sled. He took great joy in watching “Mikey” race. Once Tanis set his computer up for viewing the races live from home, he was the perfect armchair jockey!
Jim was always down for a good card game and certainly “never” cheated! He also loved fishing, hunting and telling stories about such. Thank you to all his hunting, fishing and card buddies for so many fond memories over the years.
Another great source of joy in Jim’s life was daughter Charlene. He passed along a love of both snowmobiles and Jeeps; from childhood rides with him in the CJ-3B over all terrains… to driving her down the aisle in the ‘59 Willys panel wagon of her dreams. As a father, he always encouraged her in school, sports and hobbies. He had a way of pushing her toward success, but ultimately being happy as long as she was trying her best. He taught her how to make a proper fist in case of bullying, how to change spark plugs, and how to jazz up a can of vegetable soup with fried kielbasa.
In 2014, Jim was graced with the new and most esteemed job title of ‘Grandpa’. When Hudson James Charles Boak was born, he was named in honour of Jim. Grandpa Jim was in awe of everything that baby did; from birth to first steps to first words. In 2016, another grandson Hanley William Kenneth Boak made a lively addition to the family. Grandpa Jim often took them for tractor rides and golf cart rides. He had limitations due to health, but the boys understood this and worked around it well; making Grandpa the official Lego builder, the orange peeler, the toy train battery changer, and the provider of treats from his secret stash. His favourite photo was with the boys on his lap, peas fresh from the garden stuffed in their pockets and cheeks. His eyes lit up when the boys came to visit. He loved hearing their energetic first hand accounts of school, sports, lessons and toys. The boys were blessed to be able to help care for Jim in his final months; often fighting over who got to bring Grandpa his juice or his snack.
Special thanks to Jim’s health care team over the years. All of his doctors, nurses, and the Southern Health Palliative team provided such compassionate care.
An interment at Oakville Cemetery will be held in September.
Food and flowers graciously declined. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to Oakville Cemetery (Box 88, Oakville, MB R0H 0Y0) or Maple Grove Cemetery (Site 42, Comp 9, RR3, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3A3)
“Maybe one day they'll reach back in their file
And pull out that old memory
And think of me and smile
And say
It was just an old worn out Jeep
Rusty old floor boards
Hot on my feet
A young girl, two hands on the wheel
I can't replace the way it made me feel
And he'd say turn it left
And steer it right
Straighten up girl now, you're doing just fine”
- Alan Jackson “Drive”
A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.