On April 7, John Jim Rebrinsky, late of Weyburn, passed away at the age of 84 in the Regina General Hospital. Jim was predeceased by his parents (John and Anna Rebrinsky) and his parents-in-law (Gabriel Tarr and Margaret and Joe Tuba). He out-lived his son, Michael Alan Rebrinsky and brother -in-law, Frank Reitze. He also was predeceased by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Ontario, and Florida. He leaves to mourn his wife, Margaret Susan Rebrinsky from Weyburn, and their family; Ken (Dorothy) Rebrinsky and their children: Ryan (Mandi), Alysse Stacy (Trevor and their children: Merida, and Makaela) and Leah; Kelly (Sandra) Rebrinsky and their children: Morgan (Renita Hoskins), Delaney, Chelsea (Blake Burnett and family: Bly, Jaxton, and Jase); Michael Rebrinsky (pre-deceased) and children: Cory Rebrinsky (Shalimar Massie) and Jennifer Fohr; Mark (Brenda Griffin) Rebrinsky and family: Elizabeth Bohnert (Aaron), Nicole, and Veronica Griffin; Rhonda Walbaum (Barrington Blackwood); Rebecca (Lorin) Bowerin and their children: Mataya and Meisha. He also leaves to mourn his brother, Joe Rebrinsky (Sarah) and their families from Winnipeg, Mexico, and Edmonton; Debbie and Rick Hartness and family: Greg, Erin, and Todd (Alexis); Brenda and Juan Arencevia and their family: Rafael (Jocelyn) and Paola Schroeder (Josh); Darcy and Dale Hudjik and children: Jett and Jazz; sister-in-law, Rose Reitze and her families from Red Deer, Regina, and Weyburn; Donny (Janet) Reitze and family: Natasha (along with her children: Delfino, Antonio, Mila, Ariana and Alejandra), Andrew, and Julie (Andrew Stone); Judy Griffiths (Mark Borys) from Calgary, AB and family: Tammy (Kevin) Milne from Regina and Ammie (Ernie) Parisien from Weyburn and their children Nathaniel, Osten, and Maraya. On August 29, 1928, John Jim Rebrinsky was born in Uzhorod, Czechoslovakia, the first born to John and Anna Rebrinsky. A short time after his birth, the family decided to move from the old country to Canada with help from Anna Balyi (Jim's cherished grandmother). Jim was a mere 15 months old sailing on the Melita Canadian Pacific Ocean Liner across the ocean and arriving in St. John's, NB, Canada on March 17, 1930. Shortly thereafter, they ended up living near Talmage on a farm owned by the Cumberland family. The Cumberland family took in many newcomers to Canada and employed them on their farm until they could manage on their own or obtain employment and housing elsewhere. After a year or two, the family moved into Weyburn, where the Rebrinsky family planted their roots and has been a part of the community since. Soon after their arrival to Canada, Joe Rebrinsky, Jim's only sibling was born, three years his junior. Jim attended Haig School and frequently ran into his Grade 1 Teacher, Ms. Myers, until she passed away in 2009. He talked very highly of his beloved first teacher and also spoke about attending Grade 1 in the fall without wearing any shoes. After his elementary school years, Jim went on and graduated from the Weyburn Collegiate School in 1946. Then, he went on to acquire his Grade 13, which was equivalent to the first year of university in accounting. Jim's dad, John, bought and ran the Weyburn Auto Body Shop. Jim started helping his father by cleaning the floors, when he was eight years old, which eventually paved the way to his bookkeeping position with Trio Auto Body, where he worked until 2002. Here he learn and fostered his interest in auto repair and cars, especially the Studebaker, which his dad sold. When Jim was young, he used to call White Bear Resort his summer home. He always had a few stories to share about spending his early years at the cabin his parents owned there near Lakeshore Avenue. Back in those days, you made your fun with what you had available to you and not what you could buy. Jim always shared stories about being some of the first people to start a circus and ice rink in Weyburn and recycling whatever you could find to build a fort or a raft to float down the low lying plains around Weyburn or at White Bear Lake. In 1953, Jim attended the World Wide Convention for Jehovah's Witnesses in New York City. Here he chose to dedicate his life to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Afterwards, Jim met Margaret Susan Tarr and started studying the truth with her and her family. Jim said he was not going to marry a woman who was not baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. Margaret soon after was baptized and a week later, they married (August 18, 1956) and started their family, all the while, putting Jehovah first and devoting their time to learning and growing in Jehovah's word. With Jim's curiosity for biblical truths, in 1977 he ventured and took a trip to the sacred land of Israel. This trip has always been and always will be one of his favorites and near and dear to his heart. He was so proud to have walked on the same soil as the "Faithful Men of Old" from the bible. Throughout the years, the Rebrinsky door has been open wide to many people. Whenever someone needed a place to stay, a meal to eat, a kind word or gesture, some advice, or just a friend, they could always be certain to find one under their roof. Jim will always be remembered as being a kindhearted, patient, accepting, and respectful man with an amazing mind for scriptures, dates, details, and facts and always a story or two to share. Through loyal and dedicated service, Jim faithfully, to the end of his days, served Jehovah with his whole heart, whole soul, and whole mind. He never wavered in his stand as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was quite proud to be a proclaimer of the Good News. Our patriarch and pinnacle of our family and congregation will be dearly missed by many! A memorial service for Jim will be held on Friday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. from Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Weyburn, with Ken Rebrinsky, officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn. For family and friends so wishing, donations in memory of Jim may be made to the Watchtower Society, P.O. Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4 or charity of choice. Arrangements were entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Weyburn (306-848-0333 ~ 1-888-848-0333). Expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at www.rdfamilymemorialchapel.com "Our family serving your family"
