Jim Keesic

Jim Keesic, 77, resident of Thunder Bay, ON, passed on to glory on December 6, 2021, at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

Jim was born in Red Lake, ON., on October 20, 1944, and attended Red Lake Indian School as a boy. Jim worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Red Lake for 13 years where he became an RT3, and Heli-attack officer. He appreciated his bosses and co-workers alike, and especially enjoyed working on fire crews with First Nations firefighters from northern reserves.

Jim graduated from Lakehead University in 1978 with an Ontario Teaching Certificate and a Bachelor of Arts degree. He taught school for 20 years, first in Slate Falls, ON., then at the Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program in Fort Frances, and at Whitefish Bay, and Pikangikum. He loved his students and colleagues and kept in touch with many.

In retirement, Jim worked for 14 years at Wequedong Lodge. He enjoyed staff and clients alike and made many enduring friendships wherever he went. He loved meeting friends for coffee, telling stories, and speaking the Ojibwe language. Jim is a founding board member of the Door of Hope Counselling Ministry, Ashawaabic Ministries, Living Hope Native Ministries, and the Red Lake Indian Friendship Centre. He hosted the Ojibwe Good News broadcast on CFOB for 8 years and created the ‘Gospel in Ojibwe’ YouTube channel. Jim taught Sunday School and loved speaking on Wawatay Radio. He and his wife Mary sang at retirement homes in Thunder Bay. Jim’s greatest achievement was his involvement in translating the Bible into Ojibwe and creating an online audio version. Jim loved the Lord, his church, New Hope Fellowship, his family, and the Bible, which guided his whole life.

Jim leaves behind a loving wife of 47 years, Mary; a son, Gordon, (Rachel, Ethan, Hannah, Andrew), a daughter, Faye (Caden, Wyatt) and husband Roy, and a son Steve and wife Noemi; a brother, Robert, and 2 sisters, Jessie and Mary Jane.

Jim was predeceased by his Father, James Nataway Keesic, in 1973, and his Mother, Agnes Bannatyne Keesic, in 2006, and 6 siblings who died in infancy.
Funeral services will be held at New Hope Fellowship in Thunder Bay, on December 20, 12:00 -1:30 pm, by invitation only. A viewing for all is open from 10:30-11:30. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/New-Hope-Fellowship-Church-201130143247053