James M. Irwin

James M. Irwin

74, of Libby

James M. Irwin, Jr., 74, of Libby, passed away of natural causes on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby. He was born March 11, 1941, in Hamilton, Ohio, to James M. and Lorraine (Johnson) Irwin. He moved to Libby in 1948 and was raised by wonderful foster parents, Harold and Ethel Dutton. He attended the Libby Schools, graduating from Libby High School in 1959.  

Jim married Margo Gilbertson and they had two sons, Scott and Kevin. Jim worked as a logger and, in the early 1970s, he began Irwin Logging. He worked as a logger for 37 years and retired in 2003. In 2001, he married Marilyn Smith. 

Jim’s hobbies included fishing, hunting and woodworking. During his retirement, Jim enjoyed fishing on Lake Koocanusa, McGregor, Thompson Lake and surrounding areas.  He dearly loved smoking fish and sharing them with the community. He enjoyed elk hunting in his various ‘secret’ places. He also enjoyed his workshop – building birdhouses, bird feeders and picture frames. He will be dearly missed by friends and family. He was preceded in death by his parents; foster parents; first wife, Margo; infant son; and sisters Cheryl Elder and Lorena Irwin.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; sons Scott (Jodi) of Fairborn, Ohio, and Kevin (Gina) of Fox Island, Wash.; grandchildren Dustin Irwin of Troy, Amy Jensen of Spring, Creek, Nev., and Sarah Irwin of Fairborn, Ohio; great-grandchildren Caleb Jensen of Spring Creek, Nev.; sisters Mary Ralphs of Mesa, Ariz., and Virginia Ward of Spokane, Wash.; brother Wayne Irwin of Wellpinit, Wash., and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Jim will be 11a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home Chapel, 422 West Second Street, in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.