It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and son, Joseph James Szabo. Jim passed away on September 19, 2026.
Jim was born in Dryden, Ontario, on September 27, 1962 to Link and Reta Szabo.
He will be deeply missed by his father, Link; his wife, Carol; his sons, Brenden (Brooke) and Blair (Kyla); his beloved granddaughter and grandson, Bri and Lincoln.
Jim was predeceased by his wife, Alison Szabo, and his mother, Reta Szabo.
Although he grew up an only child, Jim treasured his friendships. It was still the highlight of his day when someone would stop in for a beer, he made sure the fridge was always well stocked. An avid sports fan, he had a particular love for hockey and baseball. He played for as long as he could, and as his family would say, practically had to be dragged off the ball diamonds.
Jim spent his career working at the Dryden mill for over 30 years. He was forced into early retirement due to a neck injury, which in turn led to many years of family time spent at home and camp with Alison and the boys.
It was at a ball tournament that Jim met Alison, after Link recruited her to play on the team. That meeting marked the beginning of a beautiful life together. They married in August 1992 and shared 32 wonderful years before Alison’s passing.
Blue Lake was an annual vacation. Every August long weekend, Jim would pack as much of the house as he could into his truck, Alison’s car and the camper and they’d head out with the entire extended Blair family. Three lots, all together. One lot was designated the cooking lot and that was Jim’s domain. With numbers, including random friends, he’d cook for 20+, morning and night. The rest of his day was spent playing in the water with his boys.
Jim was kind and generous, always making sure his family and friends were well taken care of. As a dad, he passed his love of sports down to his sons, proudly coaching them in both hockey and baseball. His passion could often be heard from the bench as he gave the refs a hard time, earning himself a few ejections over the years. Whatever the sport, he never missed a game.
He spent many years driving all over the country for tournaments, always ready to cheer his boys on. Even after his coaching days, ball weekends remained a highlight of his summers, and he proudly held the title of the Merchants’ number one fan.
Jim was recently remarried to Carol, and together they were looking forward to many new adventures. They were excited to travel, spend time with family, and enjoy this next chapter of their lives together.
Cremation has taken place, and a private family ceremony will take place at a later date.
The family kindly asks that, due to Link’s dementia, he not be contacted directly or sent cards regarding Jim’s passing. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dryden Minor Hockey Association in Jim’s memory.
Leave a Condolence