It is with very heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of James Andrew Errol Hartviksen on June 8, 2024, at the age of 85, at TBRHSC with family by his side. Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Jim was born on February 28, 1939, in Port Athur, Ontario to Andrew and Nina Hartviksen. When he was 18, he met the love of his life Carolyn and they married on December 3, 1960, and spent the next 57 years building their life together until Carolyn’s passing in 2018. They were blessed with 2 daughters – Tracey in 1961 and Kelly in 1963. Jim will be sadly missed by his daughter Kelly Buchanan (Ralph Abernot), grand-daughter Ashley Christen (Dave), grandsons Matthew and MacKenzie Buchanan, great-grandsons Emmett and Everett Christen and daughter Tracey Nuttall, grand-daughter Brittany Nuttall, great-grandchildren Tristan and Teryn Nuttall, sister-in-law Helen Hyvarinen and brother-in-law Jim Hyvarinen and numerous family and close friends.
Jim was a truck driver his entire life starting at Motorways, then Irwin Ready-Mix until finally settling on purchasing a dump truck and following this, Jim Hartviksen Construction was established. He was an exceptional hobby carpenter (a skill passed on by his father) and very meticulous. He took pride in what he built starting with the family home on Otto Street, the camp at Island Lake which was later sold and moved so that the most impressive work he would ever do could take its place -their forever home. There was nothing he couldn’t build, fix or make improvements to. He could almost always be found tinkering in one of his garages, until his later days in which physical and cognitive health limitations unfortunately made this too difficult. But nonetheless, he still managed to take on the role of project manager and instruct us on what and how to do it. He found fulfillment in passing along his wealth of wisdom to his family and friends and there was truly nothing he didn’t know something about. A jack of all trades, he was.
He loved spending time together with family and this precious time was usually over a delicious home cooked meal and good conversation. He was fond of his Norwegian heritage - particularly through his love of traditional Norwegian desserts – coffee mocha cake and Krumkake – both made yearly for his birthday and at Christmas. In his younger years, Jim and Carolyn enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their home on the lake, once hosting a Hartviksen Family Reunion of around 250 people and in more adventurous days, heading out for a snowmobile ride – he on his Silver Bullet and she on her Elan. Jim and Carolyn were members of the Lakehead Antique Car Club and enjoyed many cruise nights in his 54’ Sunliner convertible and meeting new friends along the way. He beamed with pride cruising with Carolyn by his side. In their late teens, they made the local newspaper for sitting too closely beside each other in the car – the caption read “How Close is Close”. Jim was charged with crowding the front seat but later talked his way out of it by saying, “She was sitting in the middle of a 3-person seat, and I could not reach her” – the judge said “We are not going to discuss how close is too close” - Case Dismissed. Jim treasured every moment spent with his grandchildren and countless cherished memories were made together. He had built a special bond with his great grandson Emmett and had only just begun doing the same with Everett.
He enjoyed many wonderful years of retirement at the lake - touring the lake on his pontoon boat, riding around on his Gator visiting neighbours to chat or lend a helping hand or shooting a game of pool downstairs on his billiard table (which he prided himself on winning most games). Jim was generous with his time and always willing to help – you could always count on Jim to jump in his loader after a snow storm and clear the snow, beyond what he needed to do; but in his later years this consisted of quiet days spent on the front deck overlooking the lake and napping in the warmer months or watching a storm blow by from the comforts of inside during the colder months with the latest episode of his favourite television series on.
Jim was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Carolyn, his parents Andrew and Nina Hartviksen, parent-in-laws, Olavi and Astrid Hyvarinen, his brothers Alf & Edmund (Inga), his sisters Emily Coulman (Norm), Haldis Excell, June George (Jack), Helena Nelson (Hal) and Jeanette O’Hara (Jack) and brother-in-law Gerald Hyvarinen.
Jim will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by all those who knew him and loved him best.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Farrand Street) on Thursday, July 11, 2024, with Pastor Matthew Diegel officiating. Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Special thanks to Dr. Scali, Dr. Garon at Hogarth and Dr. Kisselhoff and the nurses on 1A at TBRHSC for their care and support during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, should family or friends wish, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.sargentandson.com.
