A Steinbach lawyer lost his battle with cancer this week. Three months after being diagnosed with cancer, 71 year old Jim Henderson died Monday, October 5th.

David Banman practiced law together with Henderson as part of Loewen Henderson Banman Legault LLP. They joined forces in 2003, yet Banman says their relationship started in 1973 when Henderson served as the very first Campaign Manager for Banman's father, in his bid to become an MLA.

"It started off when I was a young kid being a family friend and looking after my father's campaign," recalls Banman. "I didn't really get to know Jim until probably close to twenty years later."

Banman says anyone who knew Henderson, knew him for having a larger than life character.

"He was loud and opinionated and was always on the go," recalls Banman. "I think you pretty much could always recognize him in the room, you knew who he was because he was always a true character."

For more than a decade, Henderson practiced law in Ontario. But Banman says sometime in the 90's, Henderson moved back to Steinbach and it was in the late 90's when the two really got to know each other. The two lawyers would often find themselves on opposite sides of legal files and after joining forces in 2003, practiced together for 12 years before his death this week.

"Jim was always learning new things," shares Banman. "He would always be the first person to tell us if something new was happening, if there was some new wrinkle in the law he would always want to be the first person to tell us."

Banman says Henderson wanted to be in on everything and he shares a story from their partnership early on with Terry Loewen. Banman says one day he came in to find Henderson painting the walls. A couple of staffers tripped over the paint cans, spilling paint and ruining the carpet.

"Jim just stood there quietly and mopped it all up and got right back to painting and he said 'maybe this wasn't for me, but I'm going to continue painting'," remembers Banman. "It was always an enjoyable time being with Jim."

Banman says Henderson really loved his work. As a 71 year old he was still working full time, balancing his love for law with his love for golf and spending time in Arizona.

"He just had a joie de vivre (joy of living)," says Banman. "He loved to live."

Banman notes Henderson liked to be involved with everything and didn't like to be excluded from anything. He was a person who was fun to be around because Banman says you could feed off his energy. Banman adds he was involved in the community, supported the Steinbach Arts Council and touched a lot of lives behind the scenes.

"He was a very generous person," says Banman. "When somebody was having trouble, whether it be one of his clients or one of us or a staff, he was always the first person there to help out. Sometimes just with support and a lot of time with money, he did it quietly, nobody ever knew this."

Banman says he was shocked when he first learned the news that his friend had terminal cancer.

"But one of the most amazing things was how stoic Jim was," says Banman. "He took his time to sit down with everybody personally and say this is what's happening to me."

Banman says his health deteriorated very quickly and admits when he was informed Monday that Henderson had passed away, it didn't come as much surprise.