James Winfred Fitzpatrick

James “Fitz” Winfred Fitzpatrick was born June 8, 1930, in Hedgesville, Montana. He grew up in Ryegate, Montana, and started working for Jess Sterling when he was eight years old.

As a young man, Jim moved to Potomac and worked on the Wills Ranch. In 1950 he left to serve his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War Era. He served aboard the USS New (DDE-818) as a Boilerman Third Class, spending more than three and half years at sea. Jim was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and was discharged in 1954. He returned to Montana and went back to work at Wills Ranch.

In 1960, Jim met Rosan, and they were married on January 7, 1961. They made their home in the Potomac Valley and shared 58 years of marriage before Rosan passed away in 2019. When Jim and Rosan married, Jim became father to Rosan's three sons Terry, Mike, and Steve. Jim and Rosan had three daughters together, Tammy, Jamie, and Janet. His family grew to include 18 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

In 1985, Jim bought a logging truck and began a long career as a truck driver, continuing until he was 85 years old. In addition to logging, Jim was an inventor - from EZ Glider plastic ski skins for snowmobiles to the File-It-Rite chain saw files and Fitz’s EZ turnout fender. He believed in working for what you had, and he passed that work ethic and much of what he knew on to his children and grandchildren.

In the days surrounding his passing, one word was used over and over by the people who knew him: legend. They’ll always remember his answer when you asked how he was doing: “Barely making it.”

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Rosan; his son, Terry; his daughter, Jamie; his grandson, Matt; his parents (Timothy and Violet); and six of his siblings (Francis, Gene, Ella, Anne, Paul, and Jerry). He is survived by his brother Joey, his sons Mike (Children Michael, Vinny, and Dante) and Steve (Eileen and children Raina, Nigel, Katie, Maggie, and Selah); his daughters, Tammy (Children JD, Cory, Timothy, Cody, John, McKenzie, and Mariah) and Janet (Ernie and children Addi and Kristen).

Services will be held at Saint Anns Cathlic Church in Bonner on October 10th at 11am with a reception to follow at The Corral at Camas Creek Farm in Potomac from 2pm-7pm.