James (Jim) Arthur Streb

“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave”

-Dakota Tribe

James (Jim) Arthur Streb, 72, died on September 10, 2024, at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. How can we possibly do justice to Jim’s life in a few lines on a page? The only way is to write about the great loves in Jim’s life.

Jim was born in 1952 in St. Louis, Missouri to Helen (Brisbin) and Victor Streb. As the ‘baby’ of the family, he was doted on by his sisters, Judy (Krause) and Sallye (Hopmann). Sibling love was forever strong between these three and Jim cherished every moment he had with his sisters throughout his life. From a very young age, Jim enjoyed just being outside, roaming the hillsides and waterways around his rural home in Oakville, Missouri with many neighbourhood friends and family. Perhaps this is where Jim learned to stop, look, notice and love the natural world – from the minute to the massive – to take time to soak it all in, and not be rushed.

Jim attended Point Elementary School and then Mehlville High School where he was an excellent student, a member of the swim and the water polo teams and entered school politics to fight for causes and justice – another great love. Along with lifetime friend, Mike Cry, Jim fought the administration for fairness over important issues for high school students, like dress codes and student protests.

Jim married high school sweetheart, Kathy (Steel) and they welcomed their daughter, Michelle into the world beginning his greatest love of all, a father’s love. His winona, Michelle, lit up his face the day she arrived and on the last day he saw her in hospital. 

Jim turned his love for cars and their operation, which he learned from his cherished father, Victor, and later passed on to his son, Mackenzie, into his early profession when he joined Western Diesel as a mechanic. Curiosity and hard work earned him Mid West Craftsmen Guild award in 1977, the role of Director of Distributor Trainer of Western Diesel, and later Service Manager at Mikes’ Incorporated.

In January of 1980, Jim, Kathy and Michelle took a brave step to move their lives to Oakville, Ontario, where another love, a love for Canada, began.

Jim joined Harper Diesel as a Trainer and travelled all over Ontario meeting people and passing along his knowledge and love of learning.

Next, Jim returned to school to obtain his Bachelor of Science in Biology at York University. There he met many exceptional people, including Dr. David Logan, who encourage Jim to pursue his love for nature as his Research Assistant. David and Jim shared long hours of research and many shaggy dog stories! Jim’s passion for observation of the natural world, attention to detail and awe were traits he would later share with his daughter, Jordan.

Solving computer problems for the York University community was the next evolution of Jim’s career. Self taught and eager to learn, Jim advanced to become a manager in the Computing Services Department at York U, where the team worked hard but had time to prank, laugh and celebrate their community with dinners, poker nights and parties.

As part of a commitment to the natural world, Jim and dear friend, Todd Kondrat started a side project, SK Reforestation, to help re-plant parts of Northern Ontario that had been clear-cut on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources. It was in a tree planting camp just outside Bancroft where Jim met Tracy Kay, the forever love of his life.  They later married in 1994 and were side by side until the day Jim died wrapped in her arms.   

While at York U, Jim became a union steward for York University Staff Association (YUSA) which deepened his commitment to the union movement and justice for workers.  Stewardship led to Bargaining Chair and then being elected as the President of YUSA, a role in which he was honoured to hold for many terms. Every day, Jim left for work with a mission to make the workplace better for the YUSA members and their families. This evolved outside of the York U circle when he was elected to be Vice President, and then President of the Confederation of Canadian Union (CCU), an organization to which he remained dedicated by writing articles for its publication, including his latest, “Democracy is not a Spectator Sport” in August of this year.

In 1997, Jim took a leave of absence from YUSA for his most important role ever – full time dad – when Jordan and then Mackenzie were born. Just like when Michelle came into his life, his love, adoration and commitment to Jordan and Mackenzie were unmatched. Ahead of his time, Jim was often the only father in the room at the Nobleton playgroup and school parent committees. Striving to make the school community an enriched environment was a further love for Jim. Winter festivals, campfires, camping trips, bike rides, hikes, gardening, tree planting and charity fundraisers were all part of that equation. Jordan and Mackenzie were so incredibly fortunate to have had their father play such an active role in their school communities at Montessori Country School, Aurora Montessori and King City Secondary School.  

Community was essential to Jim, and he gave of himself by running for local town counsel in 2014, sitting on the King Township Library Board and Pay Equity Advocacy and Legal Services, helping with trail maintenance in the early days of Cold Creek Conservation, joining the Concerned Citizens of King Township and the Nobleton Community group. Jim was always willing to pick up a hammer, shovel, chainsaw for a neighbour or an organization to just get it done. His willingness to help will be forever missed by so many.

Jim has so many people in his life who are important to him. Tracy, Michelle, Jordan and Mackenzie have lost a pillar who has provided so much support and love. Sallye (Jim Hopmann) and Judy have lost a beloved brother. The late, Charlie Robinson, was like a brother to Jim and Jim was forever grateful for the love that he received from the entire Robinson family.  The whole Kay family became Jim’s Canadian family bonded with deep ties and love. Jim loved and was adored by his many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces, and particularly Mike Krause, who was like a little brother to Jim.

Jim, my love, your tracks are deep and meaningful, and we will forever be grateful for the path you have created.

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A celebration of Jim’s love of life will be held on Saturday October 26, 2024, at Albion Hills Conservation Area, Chalet, 16500 Regional Road 50, Caledon ON from 11:30-3:00 with memories being shared at 12:30. If you have a funny story or memory about Jim to share, please send to jimstreb.memories@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation on behalf of Jim to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at: cpff.ca/donate or the Bruce Trail Conservancy at brucetrail.org/ways-to-give/ or any other charity that is meaningful to you.

Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com