Obituary of Jim Fowler

It is with profound sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our son, brother, and friend, James William John “Jim” Fowler, on Friday, April 28, 2023. Jim passed away suddenly at his home in Lemberg, at 49 years old. He left this plane in the location he knew best and loved most.

Jim was born in Regina, SK, and lived briefly in Balgonie, but spent his formative years in Lemberg. He graduated from North Valley High School, spent some time finding out that university wasn’t his life path, and he (as Robert Frost advocated) took the road “less traveled by”. 

Jim was a free spirit. Over the years, he worked as a Jack of All Trades, most often with his younger brother and best friend Robert “Bob”. Jim loved taking broken things and figuring out their inner workings, then setting them back to working order. He was dedicated to helping his much-loved parents Bill and Marianne Fowler, in all aspects on the family acreage, until his passing.

Jim lived for those moments when he could ride motorcycles, play music (very often via Facetime with Bob, for hours on end), spin a yarn with friends, and hang out with his dogs.

Jim was genuine, loyal, and had a fierce sense of justice. He was also exceedingly charismatic, charming people with his humour, sharp wit, keen intelligence, and penchant for deep conversation. Jim had an incredibly soft heart and would do anything he could to help a friend (of which he had so many). In the end, it was that same huge, gentle heart that gave out and took him from us.

Jim was predeceased by his grandparents, John Wingert, Jeanne Fowler and Dick Fowler; great-aunt and great-uncle Mary and John Miller; uncle Rick Fowler; aunts Linda Grimm and Beverly Lobe; cousin Nicholas Fowler; and his dog Diefenbaker. 

Left to honour his life are his loving parents, William and Marianne Fowler; siblings, whom he adored, Lorraine (Remi) Snell, Dawn Barker, Robert (Alicia) Fowler, and Sarah Fowler; nieces and nephews Amanda Snell, Nathan Snell, Victoria Barker, Sarah Barker, Michael Barker, Xochipilli Diaz-Fowler, Citlalli Diaz-Fowler, Xoco Diaz-Fowler, Johanna Fowler, and Jessie Fowler; great-nephew Elijah Leupold-Barker; grandmother Adeline Wingert; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, who had become de facto family. Paramount in his life were his dogs, Diefenbaker and Waldo. Not a day went by when they weren’t by his side.

The family is deeply grateful to the Lemberg First Responders and Balcarres EMT team, who fought so heroically to try to keep Jim with us, and to the Melville RCMP, who attended the scene with kindness and compassion. We are overwhelmed by the messages of love and condolence, the gifts of flowers, food and friendship from the Lemberg community, and the large circle of people who loved Jim. 

Jim had always said he didn’t want a church service – he wasn’t that kind of guy – and in respect of that, the family is planning a Celebration of Life later this year. In lieu of flowers, pay it forward and make a difference for someone else. Jim always did.