James (Jim) Reginald Arnold

1953 – 2025 

With the heaviest of hearts, we announce the passing of James (Jim) Reginald Arnold, cherished husband, father, and grandfather, at the age of 71, on March 10th, 2025, with his “Anam Cara” (soulmate) wife, Nora, by his side.

We rejoice that he is now home with God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he knew as his Saviour.

As a child, Jim would go out into the prairie fields and play pretend that he was on a ship at sea. Looking out across the flat expanse, he saw the pointed blades of grass as dynamic crests of waves.
A prairie boy who dreamt of the ocean. His eyes scanned the seas of green as though he was scanning the seas of life, excited for the voyages ahead.

Lover of literature and music, that was Jim. This love and profound passion for poetry especially were ignited early in life, when his mother would read to him for hours on end. He soaked up pages of classic prose, biographies, science and nature…and of course, anything about the sea. In the first week of kindergarten, when the teacher called upon the pupils to recite a favourite poem, little Jim stood up and from memory delivered “Requiem”, by Robert Louis Stevenson. He was met with giggles from the other children who had all recited “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, but he was glad he had shared his heart.

Born in 1953 to mother, Ode-Mae Arnold (Henderson), and father, Reginald Arnold, in Killarney, Jim began to carve out his life. His affinity for cars and motorcycles and his ability with people saw him excel in careers as a Mechanic, a Municipal Cop, a Small Engine Repair Business Owner, a Psychiatric Nurse’s Aide, a Security Guard, and a Residential Support Mentor.

Jim’s journey took him to Boissevain and later, Brandon, with his beloved children (Reg and Ruth).
They lived, laughed, and grew together, they made memories that would hold fast in his heart forever.

In 2004, Jim met his soulmate, Nora, in Winnipeg and discovered that she had voyaged from her east maritime hometown to the prairie city years ago. They had so many shared passions, and their shared love of and connection to the ocean naturally lead them on a trip back to New Brunswick in 2007.
Jim loved lighthouses and at Cape Enrage fulfilled a lifelong dream to be in one. As he toured the Bay
of Fundy, he stepped out into the tides of the ocean for the very first time.

A man with a big heart, he immediately extended it to his two stepdaughters (Jenna and Leanne)
that he had acquired as well. He loved them as his soulmate’s children, but he also loved them
as his daughters.

Jim was a steady presence to those around him, a lighthouse for when you are out at sea, tossing through the waves. A sailor who would lift you up and carry you along in his ship. He let us know that he was there. He was able to reassure us in an endless range of scenarios with his phrase, “Everything will work out, we’ll sort something out one way or another,” and you knew he would help you to pull something together!

He shared in your interests, hobbies, and dreams. He cared about what we cared about. He was
a collector and a treasure hunter of sorts who always had some new thing to share. He loved a wide variety of music, books, film, art, animals, history, geography, nature, and cultures. When you hopped into his car, you never knew what you were going to hear: Loreena McKennitt, Enya, Ace of Base, Celtic Thunder, Aqua, David Meece, some europop, rock, country, or gospel music…or perhaps a recording
of Orson Wells’ radio sci-fi classic, “War of the Worlds”.

Jim loved people (unless you were hopelessly ignorant haha) and made friends wherever he went. He always found some common ground. If you ever met him in person, then you saw exactly how he was someone who brought people together.

Jim loved to laugh and always had some silly or bold dad joke at the ready. Some sailor humour
did apply.

Jim made you feel like family. He could see something in you that you didn’t even see in yourself. He was honoured to be a nephew and an uncle. Cousins, friends, and coworkers were brothers and sisters to him. “Like a father” to many, he was also the best doggie dad. He taught us, encouraged us,
and loved us. We learned so much from him.

We are all blessed to have had real, genuine experiences and connections with Jim, and he was sincerely grateful for them, too.

From his last 17 years living in Portage la Prairie with his wife, Jim has now voyaged to his final home. Goodbye, see you later, and we love you, Jim.

James (Jim) Reginald Arnold is survived by his wife, Nora Arnold (Connors), son Reginald, daughter-in-law Tara, and grandsons, Sylas and Chayce, daughter Ruth, son-in-law Kyle, and granddaughters Aria and Ava, stepdaughter Jenna, stepdaughter Leanne and son-in-law Nick, and brother-in-law, Randy.

Respecting Jim’s wishes, there will be no funeral or service held.

Donations can be made to Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Brandon, Manitoba or to Funds for Furry Friends, where our precious Max (2007-2023) was adopted from.

Requiem (by Robert Louis Stevenson):

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.