Jim from Java. I called him this ever since he introduced himself this way over the phone once, and it always made him smile. I would spend hours in the salon some days chatting, laughing, exchanging dad jokes and listening to stories of how he met Claudine. He just adored her and it really showed, I will always remember that about him...a true gentleman that I admired. He loved to talk and make others laugh, his charm and sense of humor was truly unmatched. He never took life or himself too seriously, but such a strong and honest man, always willing to help others and give good advice. I like to think that we had a special kind of friendship and bond. I will really miss seeing his smiling face and hearing the array of witty things that came out of his mouth.

We will miss you down here xoxo

It’s difficult to express how much I miss my big brother Jim.

He was a magical kind of person who loved life and will be missed by me deeply. Jim would always make me laugh, show me something cool, play a trick or prank and had a great passion for just about everything he did.

I love you Jim

Your little brother David

Jim,

I too can’t believe your time with us is over. As I have reflected many times this past month. I remember many fond memories. I will miss you as will so many others. These past few weeks have been difficult for your siblings and family we all wish you had more time with us. I know that Claudine, Adam and Andrew will find the strength they need to carry on with time as you have left them with many memories of their own. Rest in Peace - Dear Brother In-Law

I've talked to Jim on the phone a few times we had planned to meet eventually. I am his uncle Jim Thorns daughter

Dear brother.

I remember you as the practical joker, the easy going one in our family. You were always joking around and playing jokes on us and you always had a great ability to laugh and never one to take things too seriously. My fondest memories will stay with me from the fun we had at Christmas time and especially the summers we spent together at the Grandma and Grandpa's farm. I remember how you loved playing in the river catching frogs or fishing and how proud you were when you caught a turtle (we won't tell anyone about the snapper). While I became more of the worker around the farm you remained the fun guy and we could always count on you to bring a joke or something to laugh about.

As we reached our adulthoods at such an early age I might add, we went our separate ways and while we didn't spend much time together just know I was always proud of your life accomplishments and the things that you and Claudine built together.

I wish you had woken when I visited you in the hospital but I know you heard me talking to you.

I love you and I will fondly remember you forever. RIP Jimmy.

Love Tracey

I enjoyed the times when my daughter and I would come and visit your family… the jokes he shared, the magic tricks that he showed us and the many renovations to your house in Kitchener. He was a good man, a friend, and loved his family.

Gaetanne

I so enjoyed my many conversations with Jim … open minded … genuine … truly cared about humanity … the world is at a great loss of a truly authentic caring person

I was always awestruck by my younger brother. Last one I would have thought to have been an entrepreneur yet the only one of our siblings to have managed it running two successful businesses with his beloved wife Claudine.

He would strike up a conversation with anyone. The super extrovert, intelligent, witty and funny. How could anyone not fall for his charm and Witt. If I was half the man he was I’d truly be blessed. Love my brother and friend. Missing him so much.

WAZZUP JIMMY. LOVE YOU!!

Mike Van Der Spek

We will all miss Jim as our neighbour across the street. Shortly after Jim and Claudine moved into the neighbourhood I was washing my car on a Saturday and Jim came over and asked me with that mischievous grin…“when are you going to wash my car”. From there a friendship started, and we will miss the big waves from across the street, those friendly Jim smiles, and our weekly conversations.

Our Condolences Claudine and Family.

Claudine:

I am so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. I will always remember his easy smile and carefree ways. We would often have long discussions on how to make the world a better place, and this world just got a little worse with him gone.

May your memories of him return each day to bring you comfort.

Love and prayers go out to you and your family.

Deepest condolences to the entire family. I met Jim and Claudine through the salon roughly 5 years ago. Since then , Jim and I would always be in touch either through a text message or the fact that he lived in Norwich...we would always talk about making food or using or traegers and I am pretty sure I played a big part in Jim getting his Treager. From lawn care to food. We talked about it all. Jim was a fantastic guy and always full of life when I would see him. You will be missed dearly my friend.

Jeff Beckett

My brother Jimmy. I will forever miss our random conversations. I'm so grateful you called me the Saturday before you fell ill. I will always hold you close in my heart. I will love and miss you for eternity. Please watch over all those you love. Give us strength from above. Rip ❤️ Love always baby sister Sara

Jim will truly be missed. I love how excited he would get about planning dinner. When I would come into work he would tell me how he was going to smoke some meat or make a Shepard pie. He always showed his love for his wife and family didn't matter who was in the salon. I've only known you for 9 short months but will miss that smile. R.I.P

There are no words to express how heartbroken I am right now. Heartbroken doesn't even begin to touch that feeling of emptiness and hopelessness I feel right now.

Jim was my soulmate. We worked together, made every single decision together, we made plans for everything from dinners to celebrations, not a single decision was made from the smallest to the biggest without talking to each other. People were always amazed at how great we were putting things / building stuff together. I would draw up plans and he would “make it happen”. He was no carpenter but has made some incredible creations.

In 40 years together, there was not a single day that went by that we didn't talk or text each other. Send jokes or kisses even when I was travelling to remote reserves we found a way to communicate with each other!

Jim loved to socialize with everyone! If he liked you, you truly felt it. If he didn't, he made it very clear why! (That was a very rare occasion but it did happen). Jim would go out of his way to be helpful to everyone in his precious circle. There was not a day go by that he didn't go check on someone or ask if he could help - actually just go do it! It was so easy for him to strike up a conversation with anyone rich or poor and I truly admired him for that. I was always a shy one so he tried to encourage me to mingle - I usually just said "I hate having to figure out what to say".

Jim was the most compassionate, warm, loving and helpful man I have ever met (except for his children that followed his example).

Jim was so proud of all my accomplishments and always encouraged me to do the things I loved. He would say: "make it happen" if ever I doubted myself! He bragged about that!

Jim was so very proud of his children and grandchildren. He loves planning excursions that the kids/grandchildren would love. He wanted their memories growing up to be positive and filled with joy and laughter-even his silly dad jokes.

He was always encouraging them to "be better", "make better choices", "be proud of your accomplishments", "make me proud", "good man/girl" etc. For our own children, he was hard on them because he wanted the very best for them. They felt he was just hard on them but truly, he didn't want them to suffer the consequences of hardships like he did when he was a young man. One day I truly hope they look back and realize he only meant it in a loving, caring way.

I miss his smile, his laugh, his touch, his scent, his love of everyone, EVERY SINGLE THING about him is so profoundly missed.

I met Jim & Claudine during the scamdemic of 2020! They were amazing warriors and fought the mandates and kept their tanning salon open! When I heard about them staying open I knew these were the kind of people I needed to support and become friends with! A 10 minute tan always turned into an hour visit chatting with Jim or Claudine or both depending on the day! Jim had a huge heart but wouldn’t back down! He stood firm to his rights!

It breaks my heart to know he is no longer with us! He will be forever in our hearts! Rest easy my friend xo

I met Jim when I started going to the salon. He always had a smile on his face, ready to tell all the stories he could tell. I remember he smiled so much talking about his wife, Claudine, and how he convinced her to marry him. He told me about their wedding and how he purposed to her. He will be very deeply missed, he was a very good man.

Miss my brother. Jimmy was always full of life. He was funny, very much an extrovert who could strike up a conversation with anyone. A real people person who adored his wife.