Jim Macdonald

Mr. James Frederick Macdonald, 69, left his earthly body on Monday, October 11, 2021, at 9:15 pm, surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 PM on Sunday, October 24th, 2021, at Wilkinson Funeral Home Chapel in Concord, NC.

We cherish our friends and family and appreciate your presence at this service because we draw strength from you. This is an informal gathering, and we invite you to join us and share a favorite memory with us. Jim “Old School” Macdonald loved his family and friends immensely, and he touched many lives with his charisma. He cherished each moment spent with his lovely wife of 45 years, Ellen Robin Plitt Macdonald, and often brought her flowers he arranged himself as a token of his devotion to her. They loved the open water and spent many happy days on Lake Norman on their boat, christened “The Tin Can.”

Originally from Long Island, New York, Jim graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in accounting. He loved an adventure, and his family will forever treasure many fond memories. In New York, Jim was very active in his community serving as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout Leader. After relocating to North Carolina, he coached baseball with First Assembly Church. He was also actively involved with football practice at the Boys & Girls Club. He made sure his sons never missed a practice and chauffeured them to various activities including golf tournaments. He remained active in his community as well and served on the City of Concord Board of Adjustment.

Jim was a true outdoorsman. He always had a dog by his side and loved walking the trails and over the bridge at Frank Liske Park. It is a comfort to know he is now in the company of his beloved dogs, Susie, Shadow, Rockett and Sydney in heaven. As his sons were growing up, Jim often took them on adventures “investigating the lake” with their Uncle Richie helping to navigate. He loved teaching his children respect for gun and weapon safety and took them practice shooting on the Uwharrie Outdoor Range. No job was ever complete until all guns were properly cleaned and put away. In fact, one of his favorite activities with his sons including cleaning the weapons in the back yard following target practice with their Uncle Mitchell to help supervise. For Jim, it was all about respect for safety, for the environment, and for those around us.

One can always describe Jim as both tough and tender. He loved food shopping which always took a minimum of two hours because Jim made sure to read all the ingredients and expiration dates on the labels to ensure he provided only the best for his family. He loved cooking a hearty yet healthy meal from one of his recipe books. Jim loved good food, good fellowship, and good books. His enthusiasm for life and love of family was evident to all who knew him. His Scottish heritage was a part of the fabric of his good nature and humor. Later in life, Jim obtained his clergy license and performed several marriage ceremonies in true Celtic tradition with the age-old ritual of the handfasting ceremony. He made sure to make the ceremony special by wearing traditional Highland garb including his family tartan of kilt, sash, cap, sporran, and knee-length socks.

An electrician by trade, Jim was a hard worker who was employed for the bulk of his career with Alarmex and ended his career as an electrical contractor for Fire Data Systems. He loved his job and those he worked with. Jim had a passion for martial arts which he did not pursue until he was in his sixties. He felt honored to have found such a wonderful group of brothers at Side Kick Karate. He often told his family that karate changed his life and his entire world. His sensei, Jeff Dixon, “taught him how to breathe” and he truly felt it helped extend his life. His band of brothers gave him the will to move forward. He participated in as many tournaments as he could, and he believed, “I never lose; either I win or I learn.” When Jim entered Hospice, his band of brothers honored him with his Black Belt Certification in a special ceremony at his bedside. If you are affiliated with martial arts, we invite you to wear your Karate Gi or tee shirt in his honor.

Jim was born on March 12, 1952, to the late James Lawson and Frances Macdonald. He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Cory Macdonald, on May 29, 2021. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Ellen, his sons James Macdonald, Shawn Macdonald, Joey Bukowski (Ale) and grandsons Liam Macdonald and Joseph Bukowski. Jim was the oldest of five siblings and was also preceded in death by his brother, Andrew (Joyce). In addition to his immediate family, he is also survived by his sister Cathy (Doug), his brothers John (Kathy) and Robert (Maggie), and brothers-in-law Ira Plitt (Perri), Mitchell Plitt, Joel Plitt (John) along with many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Side Kick Karate (mail a check to 521-B Pitts School Road, NW, Concord NC 28027) to help sponsor another to grow in mind, body and spirit, as Jim did.