James Richard "JR" Lathlin

In Loving Memory of

James Richard Lathlin ‘aka’ JR Cruz,

July 4, 1981 – January 5, 2026.

             It Is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden passing of our son and father, Monday, January 5, 2026,at the age of 44 Years.

             JR was a devoted son and a loving father.  He spent countless hours with his children.

JR grew up in Big Eddy and was an only child.  He enjoyed life to the fullest.  He would spend countless hours playing with his Tonka Trucks outside in the yard, I am sure he had every Tonka Truck.

JR was a strong man, he was very friendly, easy going, generous and hardworking, with an amazing personality.  But one thing about JR is you sure didn’t want to piss him off.

His passions include Hockey.  He played minor hockey, Jr. A Hockey.  He played in The Pas Minor Hockey League, OCN Minor Hockey, OCN Storm, OCN Jr. ‘A’ Blizzard, Pine Creek Warriors and finally with Kahnawake Condors. He even became a certified Referee and did the minor hockey games in for The Pas Minor Hockey League.  Finally, he coached the OCN Jr. ‘B’ Storm – KJHL to their first victory of the Central Canada Cup Champions in Kenora, Ontario.  He wore his championship ring with pride.

His other love was the game of Slo-Pitch.  He played for Down & Dirty, Wrecking Crew, Big Eddy Diamonds and various other teams when his team didn’t enter a tournament.  You can always see him making his lineups and who he would be asking for the tournament to play on his team.  His Slo-Pitch took him to many communities and places to play.  He met many people and created a lot of friendships.

His biggest passion was his hunting and fishing, he took great pride in this, always planning, what they were going hunting for, where and who he would be asking and did they have enough funds.  He would make his supply list, and he would go as far as sketching little maps of how he would be setting up his camp.

JR received his schooling at Opasquia School, Mary Duncan, Joe A. Ross and later in Winnipegosis Collegiate.

Jr is survived by his mother Jeannie Carriere; father Herman Lathlin (Audrey);  children Charlie Lathlin-Michelle (Bryce Young), Chase Michelle, Hannah Lathlin, Cohen Banhegy, Trapper Fontaine; brother Ryan Mayer; aunts on Herman side:  Wilma Burns (James), Clara Lathlin; uncles  Charlie W. Lathlin (Evelyn), Edgar Lathlin, Claude Lathlin, Philip Lathlin, Ivan Lathlin (Phyllis); aunts on Jeannie’s side  Margaret Villeneuve (Frank), Rosalie Carriere (David); uncles  Raymond Carriere, William Carriere, Walter Carriere, Emile Carriere and Abel Cook;  many cousins on both sides, too numerous to mention.  If we forgot anyone it was not intentional.

Jr was predeceased, on his father’s side by grandparents James Lathlin (MaryAnn); uncle Raymond Lathlin; aunty Vera Bloomfield; sister Raven Bloomfield; on his mother’s side by grandparents Alphonse Carriere (Sarah); uncles Joseph Carriere, James Carriere; aunty Marlene Bignell (Tom); late mother of Charlie Lathlin-Michelle and Chase Michelle – Cassandra Michelle.

WAKE SERVICE

Monday, January 19, 2026     7:00 p.m.

OCN Veterans Hall, Opaskwayak, Manitoba

FINAL VIEWING

Tuesday, January 20, 2026     11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

OCN Veterans Hall, Opaskwayak, Manitoba

FUNERAL SERVICE

Tuesday, January 20, 2026      1:00 p.m.

Presiding: Rev. James Sayese and Rev. Charlie Lathlin

OCN Veterans Hall, Opaskwayak, Manitoba

INTERMENT

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

St. Michael and All Angels Cemetery in Big Eddy,

Opaskwayak, Manitoba

RECEPTION

OCN Veterans Hall, Opaskwayak, Manitoba

Active Pall Bearers:

Louis Personius Jr., Allan Personius, Ryan Hester, Franklin “Relic” Young, Jonathon (JJ) Constant, Kevin McGillivary, Ryan Mayer, Marcel “Marzy” Fontaine.

Honorary Pall Bearers:

Richard Danielson, Cody Constant, Chase Michelle,

Tyler Dorion, Down & Dirty Slo-Pitch Team, Wrecking Crew, Deadly Diamonds & Pine Creek Warriors.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the OCN Minor Hockey Association, Box 10044, Opaskwayak, Manitoba R0B 2J0 would be appreciated by JR’s family.