Birth date: Sep 20, 1937 Death date: Dec 26, 2005
James Caswell was born in Rochester, NY on September 20, 1937 and passed away December 26, 2005 at home. He was the son of James G. Caswell and Thelma Kershaw who preceded him in death, as did his brother David. He grew up in Vanc Read Obituary
Jims visits will be greatly missed by his family in Vancouver.!##imported-begin##Robin Caswell Donahue##imported-end##
Jim was a good man, taken from this earth too soon.##imported-begin##Nate Crook##imported-end##
Jan 30, 2006
I first met Jim Caswell sometime in early 1960's. It seemed to me that he and Carol had not been married very long. They came to visit one day. That was in Portland, Oregon.
We became friends, as his wife, Carol and sister, Nancy, and I, have been friends since almost the beginning of time, well, not quite, but, a long time ago, in another world, when I was about 5 years old and Carol was a couple of years younger and Nancy was almost a year older, ( she holds seniority on me for 350 days out of each year - Smile).
Anyway, Jim and Carol and my wife, then, Mary Kathryn, and I used to meet from time to time in various locations, mainly Oregon and Washington to do things like picnics, hiking, swimming, penochle, pool, sports of one kind or another and just good times in general.
Time went along and Jim and Carol and children moved to different parts of the world, but we would always make contact eventually, sometimes, after many years.
The last few times were at their home in Yelm, the one before the lake, and then once, at the lake, after I had remarried.
Jim was always the same, all those years, fun, funny, laughing, interesting to talk to, easy going, always a friend to me and my family.
I knew he had a battle with diabetes, but he was just determined to live life like he did not have it, it seemed, and, finally, it caught up to him, it seems. But, a lot of people would have tossed in the towel and just have taken it easy, but, not Jim Caswell, as near as I could tell.
That made it a bit trying for his family at times, but Jim was Jim, an individual, and lived his life as adventurous as he could and I was glad to share some of it with him and Carol and his boys from time to time.
One night in his kitchen at the Yelm house, several years ago, I talked to him about THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND ETERNAL LIFE, IN HIM. Jim listened for an hour or more and contributed, also. He never did say, for sure, what he believed, but, it sounds like, from what his boys said about him in the guestbook, that he practiced Christian kindness to others along the way.
If I get to HEAVEN, BY THE GRACE OF THE LORD, I would like to see him there, also, along with the rest of his family, for I have had them on my Prayer List for many years, and lifted them all up in Prayer, every day, and I would like to see those Prayers Answered in a Very Affirmative Way!
So, we remember the good times and the struggles, and life goes on a little while longer.
And, so, as I close this farewell to Jim, and, in Jim's behalf, and with Carol's understanding friendship, I would like to encourage all who read this to consider something a man told me a long time ago: "There has to be more to life on this planet than Working, Playing, Making Money, Marrying, having Children, and all that goes with that and doing that for about 70 years, give or take, as wonderful as all that can be, amidst the trials, also, and then dying and leaving all you had to your family, relatives and friends, and that's it!" As a song said, back in the 60's, "Is that all there is?"
Well,I would like to answer that song by saying that, No, that is not all there is! THERE IS AN INFINITELY GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR all those who will avail themeselves of IT. IT IS ETERNAL LIFE for everyone who will realize that THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MADE THAT POSSIBLE for each and every person who will accept HIM AS THE SAVIOUR AND LORD OF their lives. I not only believe that, but I know IT IS 100% TRUE, with all my heart and soul, and I take this Golden Opportunity, now, to share that with all of you, in hopes that all of you will accept HIS MOST LOVING OFFER to each of you and wait no longer, for the time is running out. Thank you for reading and "Listening" with your heart, and thank you Jim and thank you Carol, and thank you Martin, Trevor, and Daniel, and your families, for the times we had together, even though it was some time back in the past. AND, MOST OF ALL, THANK THEE LORD FOR THY UNSPEAKABLE GIFT, IMMANUEL, "GOD WITH us" NOW, AND FOREVER, AMEN.
Randahl Wells Holder#
Grandpa Jim made the best pumpkin pie usually he made more than one and sometimes he Let us go with mom and Dan to go on a walk in these woods.That had a bridge with a stream through it.Than after that we got to a trail that led to a two way trail.My brother and I walked through a secret passage way.That led to this beach and grandpa Jim let us swim.WE got to eat hamburgers and Hot dogs.I miss grandpa JIM SO SO SO SO SO super Extreamlely MUCH.And he had us sit at this dining room table upstairs.Grandpa Jim was the best grandpa I ever knew.And he made all of the food for us.and he let us roll down the stairs.And when grandpa Jim explained about dunch which means LUNCH AND DINNER.WHEN I said it is dinner time when he served LUNCH.##imported-begin##Quinten Brown##imported-end##
Jim was a great grandfather to me,my sister,and my brother. We all had so much fun at his house and in the lake and most of all with him. He was a man who touched our lives in a way that i still feel. I always enjoyed his house and he made me feel at home. He was also a great cook and i loved his pumpkin pies and dinner. Every now and then we would bring over a pizza from papa murpheys and enjoy a nice dinner. My brother and i would run around outside and inside and found fun everywhere. He was a great grandfather and i miss him so much. He always had something to say or do. Once we swam at the lake for what seemed forever and i really loved it. I was the first in the family to go in the canoe with him when I was only about seven or eight. I kept asking if there where any alligators or crocadiles in the water even though the water was only three feet deep. I will never forget him and never stop thinking about how he was a role model to all of us. I miss him deeply and hope he lived a great life.##imported-begin##Mason Christensen##imported-end##
I remember Jim taking us in the canoe at his lake house. We had such fun. He was so good at making pumpkin pies and making us feel so comfortable when we came to visit. He was a very caring man and we always enjoyed our visits. I am saddened that my daughter and sons will not be able to grow up with him by their sides. His hearty laugh and fun sense of humor is deeply missed. The last time we saw him was in September. We went out for a visit and Mason and Quinten swam in the lake with their pants on (ha,ha-didn't bring suits). Jim seemed to be having loads of fun with Shauna. We had her tied to a rope to keep from falling in the lake. Jim was laughing and laughing. The day will be remembered as will Jim. We all miss him deeply and will keep his memory alive with all the fond memories we have of him.##imported-begin##Stacey Caswell##imported-end##
NULL##imported-begin##Robert and Penny Caswell##imported-end##
I think every young boy, who has a strong caring dad, thinks of his dad as Superman. I know I did. As a young boy I vividly remember when I started to question my belief that my dad was unbeatable. It happened when my dad was chosen to compete against another dad at the church in Lakewood. The contest was to see who could drink a coke and eat a banana the fastest. I knew my dad was going to win, yet he didn't.
I had a dream a few nights ago that my dad was still alive. He was sitting on a large boulder next to some white water rapids. The night before I had been looking at the rafting picture that was taken by Maupin. In my dream, my dad was just sitting there with his arms folded enjoying the outdoors. What struck me about the dream was my reaction to seeing him alive. We did not talk and I did not have any questions - all I thought was that I knew he would come back - he always did whether it was Vietnam or a diabetic reaction.
Sometimes I am that young boy again and I ask myself "How can Superman die?"
P.S. When playing games there was no better person in the world to beat than my dad! And no worse person to lose to!##imported-begin##Trevor Caswell##imported-end##
Dad cared deeply about his family, the environment and other people. It was not unusual for him to stop to help people he didn't know. He didn't always show his caring in obvious ways but his caring was always obvious.##imported-begin##Dan Caswell##imported-end##
