James "Jim" Wolframe

James (Jim) Guy Wolframe age 87, was called to his eternal home on Friday, March 15, 2013 at Bethammi Nursing Home. Jim was born April 16, 1925 in Port Arthur. He proudly served in World War II with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He fought in the Battle of Normandy in 1944. After recuperating in England, he chose to go to Italy to be with his twin brother Frank, to serve there. Jim was a welder by trade and began his career at the shipyard and then Can-Car. He then had his own "Wolframe Portable Welding" service truck, a 1947 flat deck Chevy that he restored. There was no job that he wouldn't tackle as he was a "jack-of-all-trades." One of his great passions was the restoration of the old "Silver Mountain Railroad Station" - years of hard labour, lifting it out of the ground, laying brick, building dormers, hauling amethyst from Dorion to build the amethyst fireplace you can see to this very day. He became a city firefighter in 1954, retiring from the Thunder Bay Fire Department in 1985 after 31 years of service. He was one of the original group of firemen who began the Toys for Tots program in Thunder Bay. Jim was a great volunteer, always ready and willing to help someone in need. He spent many volunteer hours on building projects with his church, using the many skills he had accumulated for the years. Jim was extremely proud of his family. He especially loved family gatherings, especially if there was singing and instruments involved. He leaves behind his dearly beloved wife, Rita, after 65 years of marriage; his seven children: Gail Collins, Guy (Diane), Craig (Brenda), Gary (Helene), Jim (Mary Jane), Joy (Telford) Larson, Ruth Anne Wolframe; 24 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Jim was predeceased by his siblings: Ron, Jack, Cecil, Roy, Alice, Nadeen, Gladys, Ruth, and lastly his twin brother Frank in August 2012; his daughter-in-law Janet Wolframe and his son-in-law Randy Collins. A special thank you goes to Bethammi Nursing Home and staff for their loving care and support. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Church, 289 North Court Street, Thunder Bay. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's memory can be made to MEMO Cuba, 289 N. Court St., P7A 4X1 or Port Arthur Legion Building Fund Branch No. 5, 229 Van Norman St., P7A 4B6 or Toys for Tots program. A private family interment will take place at a later date."