James "Jim" Harry Cassels

To view the Celebration of Life for Jim, please click the link below.

Celebration of Life ~ Jim Cassels

Passed away at the Tiger Hills Health Centre on Monday, December 29, 2025 at the age of 69 years, James Harry “Jim” Cassels, of Cypress River, MB.

Jim leaves to mourn his passing his loving wife Elza (Els) Goossens-Cassels, daughters Kimberly Cassels of Winnipeg, MB & Emilie Cassels of St. Claude, MB; sister Corene (predeceased) & her three sons (nephews) Ryan (Carmella) Land, Shea (Jenn) Land & Darby Land; brother Ron Cassels and step sister Marianne Cassels (Steve Hawkins) and step brother Daryl Cassels (Predeceased); sisters-in-law Frieda (Rene) Smetz & Ria (Cor) Terryn; brothers-in-law Frans (Chantel) Goossens & Jan (Christine) Goossens.

Jim was predeceased by his parents Irene & Edward Cassels, stepfather Mel Cassels, sister Corene and step brother Daryl Cassels.

Jim was born and lived in Manitou. He grew up on his mom and dad’s farm. From a young age Ed Cassels would involve the boys in the daily activities of the farm. Jim loved to work with the animals but had no interest in the cleaning or mechanical duties. Something that stayed with him for the rest of his life. He was for sure his mom’s little boy, even later on in life he would do anything for her. From a young age on he loved to be around people. Being around people was one of his favourite past times, no distance or effort was too far or too great for him. Once he had his drivers licence you could find him on many country roads and the trips ended often with his vehicle somewhere in the ditch. The principal of Jim’s high school was relieved once he got all his credits to pass grade 12 so that his teachers stopped threatening to quit. After school he had all kinds of temporary jobs, he even had his own dairy operation. 

40 years ago, he and his business partner bought the Cypress Motor Inn. He finally found his calling and after a few years he became the sole owner. That meant he had to work hard to pay all the bills. In 1988 at the Cypress River Fair, Jim noticed a Belgian lady and destiny had it that he got matched up with her for the wedding of Mercedes Hendricx and Kenny Dowd. It took her till 1991 to immigrate on her own to Canada. Elza Goossens turned his world upside down. She introduced him to wearing socks and shoes during the whole year, eating fruit and vegetables and later on in his life salads became part of every meal. They married in 1993, and he invited the whole town. With the help of a ton of volunteers he threw the best party ever held at the Cypress Rink. He made his mom's wish come through by giving her 2 little grand-daughters, first Kimberly and then Emilie, who she could pamper and show off to all her friends. With hard work and very long hours he succeeded in making the hotel into a profitable business. The weekly pool and darts leagues gave him a much enjoyed escape. He became involved and raised money for every organization in Cypress River. The down side of all of this was that he was often pulled away from his little girls but seeing that they had their living quarters in the back of the hotel the girls took every chance to hang, grab, pull, or climb on him. 

It took him a lot of work but he succeeded in becoming a volunteer firefighter. He became a town board member and he was extra proud of the fact that the residents of Cypress River voted him in as their counselor. He believed that every dollar spent in town supported more than just the business you patronized. Later in life he became a school bus driver. He loved every minute of this job.Once a counselor he had even more meetings then before but his favourite projects were related to recreation, tourism, environment, and economic development. Jim was in his mind a very creative person and if you brought an idea to him, he would listen to you and help you make it happen. He made all this look so effortless but since 2002 he had to deal with life changing circumstances. Many times his health would fail him but he would never give up and go volunteering for hours in the community. He developed a very profitable tour bus business a few years before selling the hotel. He sold the hotel on Dec 18, 2017. He drove thousands of people safely home after a social, a wedding, a work party, an anniversary, and any other outing. How he had the patience to wait and listen to you all is a mystery. When his chemo was stopped in May of 2025, he was not going to wait for the end. Meetings kept going, he went out west and reconnected with so many people, he became (with his eldest daughter) for the first time a season ticket holder for the Blue Bombers and went to the Grey Cup. He had his garage sale at the end of September. It looked more like a town party than a garage sale, which ended with a bang (the fireworks show).

A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 1:00 pm in the Cypress River Memorial Hall with Chris Lea officiating. Everyone is welcome to attend. A Private Family Interment will take place at a later date in the Manitou Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made in Jim’s memory to the Cypress River & Area Foundation, Box 86, Cypress River, MB, R0K 0P0.

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