God knew he was tired, so he took Jim Balkowitsch home on Oct. 3, 2018.

He passed away at his home in Langley, with his husband Bruce Allen by his side.

He was born to Leo S. and Caroline (Kuntz) Balkowitsch on April 11, 1951. He and his twin were the youngest of six children. He was raised on a farm by Vancouver Lake and educated in Vancouver, graduating with the class of 1969.

Jim left Vancouver for Seattle, working with the railroad until getting his dream job with Hughes Air West, then moving on to Northwest Orient Airlines.

Jim loved traveling to new and exciting places and had many fun stories to tell about China, Australia, Dubai, and many other countries of the world. He took a trip on the Concord to London and loved it very much. He was citizen of the world.

He was transferred with his job to Minneapolis, Minn., with his partner, Peter Donahue, and later they moved to New York with Peter’s job for 15 years.

Peter died suddenly and Jim came back to Seattle, and then home to Vancouver, reconnecting with his family. He went to work with Panasonic for a short time and then Safeway, and made many new friends. One night while having a drink in Vancouver’s only gay bar, he met Bruce.

Bruce had just come back from Palm Springs and had a dark tan. Jim came up to him and poked his finger into Bruce’s shoulder and asked if that was real or a spray tan. Bruce rudely said that it was real, and that began their relationship. After about a year, Jim moved in with Bruce.

Bruce had a small home on Whidbey Island, where they traveled to on several occasions. In the spring of 2008 they decided to sell the house in Vancouver and permanently move to Langley, arriving there four days before Thanksgiving. They started going to the Langley United Methodist Church, where Jim got involved with many activities in the church. He was a board member for The HUB after-school program. He volunteered at WICA and was a member of the Ryther Child Center’s Mardi Unit in Langley for several years. Jim had a wonderful sense of adventure and totally loved Langley, where he continued his adventure.

Jim was a kind and gentle husband and brother and will be missed by all who were fortunate to be his friend. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Caroline Balkowitsch, and his twin sister, Jeanettee Balkowitsch. He is survived by his husband Bruce, his sister Carol Whalen (Ward), brothers Duane Balkowitsch (Kenya), Ronald Balkowitsch (Katie),Vernon Balkowitsch (Mary) and many nieces and nephews whom Jim loved and of whom he was very proud.

A memorial service is being held at 1 p.m. Saturday Oct. 13, 2018 at Langley United Methodist Church, with a reception following in the Friendship Hall. In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Jim’s name to The HUB after-school program, P.O. Box 1324, Langley, WA 98260, Langley United Church, PO Box 374, Langley, WA 98260, or a charity of your choice.