James (Jim) Charles Ungrin

James Charles Ungrin, affectionately known as “Great Jim” to his family, passed peacefully June 9, 2021 at the Roblin and District Hospital, at the age of 97.

Jim was born August 15, 1923 in the Asessippi District in the RM of Riding Mountain West to Charles and Sonda (Zetariuk) Ungarian.

Jim attended school in the town of Asessippi.  He walked to school and more often than not was distracted with hunting squirrels with his slingshot.  His love of hunting was fostered early and he did not miss a year of hunting season well into his 80s.  He left school at a young age to work at a variety of jobs – local garden nurseries, a lumber camp in Ontario, a farm hand for local farmers.

He met and married Bertha Borkofsky in 1948.  They purchased a farm in Lennard, MB and lived there until 1959 when they purchased the Borkofsky homestead, where Jim lived until his passing.  Jim and Bertha, married nearly 50 years, raised four children on the farm: Barry, Fran, Kim and Darren.  Bertha passed in 1998.

In 2000, Jim married Pat Jones.  They enjoyed gardening, fishing, golfing and attending the various sporting events of their grandchildren.  Pat entered Crocus Court Care Home in 2020 and the last year of Covid restrictions were very hard on everyone.

Jim enjoyed making his homemade fruit wine and always had friends, neighbors and family over to sample his latest creations!

Jim was predeceased by his first wife Bertha (Borkofsky), his son Barry Ungrin, his grandson Phillip Ungrin, brothers:  John Ungarian, Wilfred Bodnariuk, George Bodnariuk and sister Lena Senek.

Surviving Jim are his wife Pat Ungrin, daughter Fran (Bob) Wasyliw, Stefanie and Addie, Tim and Jen, Malachi, Myles, Gabriel, Joha and Tobias, Kait and Justin, Molly, Finn and Luke, daughter Kim (Greg) Radford, Erin and Kyle, Sydney, Brett and Tanja, Henry, son Darren (Corene) Ungrin, Grace, Griffin, Daniel Ungrin, Andrea, Phillip, Danielle, Steven Ungrin.  He is also survived by his only remaining sibling Doris Onchulenko.

In the last years of his life, Jim’s physical health began declining, but his mental health and his sense of humor remained sharp until the end.  He told many, many stories of the old days as a talented baseball player and coach, great hunter and fisherman and hard working farmer.

You lived a long and productive life, Great Jim, and you really were a great dad, grandpa, great grandpa, friend and neighbor.   We will miss you!