James Miclash

(July 9, 1983 - December 11, 2025)

It is with great sadness that the family of James announces his tragic passing on Thursday December 11th.

James obtained his GED education in both Kenora and Winnipeg. He began his working careers of carpentry and roofing in Winnipeg and Edmonton before moving to the Kenora area. Anyone knowing him would agree that it was his great many talents that contributed to his success in his business on and around Lake of the Woods. From the actual building of his own barge to the various designs that he established for the building of many different structures including docks, boatlifts, cottages, and in his garage creations of trucks, jeeps and the chainsaw bike became a reality. He would not settle for anything but a 100% finished product.

His clients were not only his employers but soon became friends. He loved to be with and around people. Upon visiting, you were always a welcomed friend with whom he would share anything including his culinary skills and great meals. Scotty Island and Lake of the Woods were his home. His definition of a fixed address knew no bounds. He loved nothing more than entertaining family and friends and their pets on his houseboat at Scotty's beach. Kids loved to be with Uncle James! Tubing, waterskiing and various water sports were the highlight of the day.

The stories of how James helped people in need are endless as he would drop everything to attend to a person in need. If you were having boat troubles on the lake or if you were stopped with your hood up on the side of the highway, he was your go to guy. When fires were threatening the folks north of Edmonton, James packed up his roofing crew, filled his trailer with gas and bottled water and headed to those communities in need. Upon arriving, he and his crew worked around the clock accepting the responsibilities of keeping the fire trucks filled with water. James was made a temporary Fire Chief, given his own truck which he operated and maintained. He was later officially recognized by the community for his contributions.

Adventure was part of James' DNA. You could be heading to Safeway on your Sea Doo for groceries and to nobody's surprise end up at Buffalo Point, Fort Frances or Morrison on his favorite loop through Turtle Portage. His uncle was never surprised when snow machines would roll up to his cottage at any hour. He often did extended trips on his snow machine but it was mountain riding that he enjoyed the most. Few winters have passed without he and the boys heading out for a week or so of adventures in the Rockies.

Other adventures took him and the family east. After watching many reruns of the TV show The Partridge Family, James found a vintage school bus, redesigned the inside, loaded his mother Val, the dog, his brother and 2 nephews and hit the Trans Canada -destination Quebec. After picking up Uncle Ed in Thunder Bay the bus made its way east. It decided to blow a fan belt on the 8 lane express way in the middle of rush hour in Montreal. With the assistance of the Quebec Provincial Police, they were soon back on the road. Occurrences associated with this trip would fill the best part of an adventure novel.

James loved exploring the entirety of The Lake of the Woods. Most of this was done on his sea-doo. However, this became second nature to him and adventure took on a new meaning when he talked Amber into being his pit crew as she rode his sea-doo around Vancouver Island. Receiving their daily reports was like reading an adventure novel. Their photographs were spectacular. His future plans included doing this a second time.

Numerous friends have been a part of his adventures and escapades however his fame reached the desk of author, Tom Stewart who wrote "Under Big-Hearted Skies" in which he captured the adventure of James and Fred jumping a beaver dam in a boat. With James at the controls, Fred is quoted as saying, "Flying in a boat is an odd and wonderful feeling".

James was predeceased by his father John, grandparents Butch and June Miclash and Jean Paul and Lucille Lafleur. Uncles Marshall, Paul and Aunts Linda and Patti along with many cousins.

He is survived by and will be forever missed by his dear friend Amber, her son Jackson, mother Val (John), brothers Mike and Matthew, nephews Mikey, Nicky and Ryder, Cousin Kyle, Uncles Frank, Randy, Ed, Mark and Laurier. Aunties Kristan, Judy and Lynn.

The family would like to thank the emergency crews that attended the scene as well as Morgan and Cory of Brown's Funeral home.

A celebration of James' life will take place at the Clarion Hotel in Kenora on Sunday January 4th between the hours of 2 and 5 pm. Feel free to bring your memories and adventure stories with you.