Obituary of James Robert Atkinson

James Robert Atkinson

 June 12, 1940 - november 18, 2024
It is with broken hearts that we announce Dad’s passing.
Our wonderful Dad passed peacefully in his sleep in the early morning
 hours of Monday, November 18th, 2024. He was in his 85th year.
Joe & I (Cath) were blessed to be with him the night before; holding his hands and having him acknowledge us before drifting off to sleep.
Our last words to him being “Good night Dad, we love you.”
Dad was born in Dunnville, the first child of eight born to James &
Marjorie (Gordie & Marj) Atkinson.
Dad lived his adult life in Stoney Creek and Smithville in later years. A hard working man from an early age; Dad became a truck driver at the age of 16 and, in 1956, went to work for John Clough & Son Fuels in Stoney Creek.
In 1977, Dad started his own trucking company hauling home heating fuel, scrap metals and water. Being the owner/operator of a business with three trucks on the go kept Dad very busy; often working 18 to 20 hour days, particularly in the winter. Dad kept this little company of his thriving until 2010 when, at the age of 70, he finally
decided to slow down a bit.
To that end, he went to work for Dawson Water Delivery for a few years.
At age 74, Dad had to give up being behind the wheel after cataract surgery. Later, Dad would say “If it wasn’t for those cataracts, I’d still be truckin’.”
Dad loved stock car racing both as a spectator and participant.
He raced both dirt and pavement on and off from 1968 to 2013.
Dad raced Sportsman, Hobby division and Vintage class.
In fact, Dad rolled his Hobby car on two separate occasions of hard racing and walked away both times with out a scratch. Then he returned to go at it again the next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Nerves of steel this man and good pioneer stock.
Dad had to give up racing at the same time, and for the same reason he gave up trucking. Referring to that, Dad would say, “Nobody wants a guy in a stock car who can’t see the next left turn.”
Dad had a steering wheel in his hand, one way or another, everyday for 58 years.
Dad was a true “wheelman”.
To me personally he was Daddy, to Joe & I he was Dad, to family and friends he was Jim and to his buddies he was Jimmy.
To each and everyone, despite his stature, he was a big man simply because of his huge heart, his great integrity, honesty and dependability.
Dad was always there whenever and wherever he was needed.
Most of all we loved and appreciated his quiet demeanor and his sparkling sense of humour.
In every recounting of Dad, people inevitably say...“Jim always has time to stop and talk no matter how busy he is.”
We will miss the twinkle in his eye and the slight smile that was ever present.
As the song says... “They don’t make ‘em like my Daddy anymore.”
Jim is survived by his daughter and son (in-law), Cath & Joe Merritt, his sister-in-law Corona Jarvis and his great-nephew and namesake Cody James (Rachel) Schwoob.
Jim is also survived by two very special cousins Will (Pat) and Harvey (Beth) Spittal, two sisters and a brother Marie, Gail and Lee; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his brother-in-law & friend Clayton Jarvis, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Judy & Albert Grobb, very special cousins George and Harry Spittal, and three brothers and a sister Ronnie, Randy, Greg and Nora.
Many thanks to the United Mennonite Home in Vineland for providing a safe, caring and compassionate environment for Dad’s last three and a half years.
Special thanks to Dr. Woodland, Dr. Briggs, Kelly Chuckry, Lorraine Wilson and the loving and caring staff of Harbour Lane including Sean, Head of Maintenance whom Dad loved talking with about working and racing.
Visitation will be held at Merritt Funeral Home 287 Station St. Smithville on Sunday, December 1st from 1-5pm. Service also at Merritt Funeral Home on Monday, December 2nd at 11am with interment at Mount Osborne Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the United Mennonite Home in Vineland would be appreciated and may be made by cheque at Merritt Funeral Home.
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If to live in the hearts of those we leave behind means not to die;

Dad will live on forever.