October 12, 1922 – March 30, 2022
Jim Christie passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side on March 30, 2022 at 99 years of age at St. Mary’s Health Care Centre, Trochu AB.
Jim was born in Trochu AB to Charles and Hazel Christie – the first of seven children. He attended school at Paulsen School and Three Hills High School where he completed Grade 11. He returned to the farm prior to volunteering for the Royal Canadian Air Force where he earned the rank of Flight Engineer/Flight Officer.
After the war, Jim returned to Trochu to continue his farming career. He met and married Doris (Peterson) Christie February 18, 1950. Jim declared it was easy to build a perfect life when you started with the perfect wife. Together, they built their future. Jim described his greatest achievement as his large family. He will be forever missed by his children - Barbara (Benedict) Chan, Sandra (Edward) Shaw, Brenda (Thomas) McCall, James Wade (Margaret) Christie, Deborah (Philip) Hogg, Linda (Larry) Wolfram, Lorna (William) Callaway and Charles (Rochelle) Christie. The family was raised understanding the importance of education and family. He loved the large, loud family gatherings to the end.
Jim began the farm with a team of horses and together, with Doris, expanded it to a large mixed farming operation. His passion for agriculture earned him numerous awards. Jim helped to develop the Three Hills Seed Cleaning plant. He began to build his hog enterprise with a single hog received as a wedding present and later earned the Pork Industry Lifetime Achievement Award and the Alberta Pork Spectra Award for over 50 years of service in the industry. He contributed to the development of the hail suppression program through the Weather Modification Board of Alberta. He was instrumental in the establishment of a hail rider for crop insurance while chairing the Alberta Crop and Hail Insurance Board. Jim was inducted into the Alberta Agricultural Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Alberta Centennial Award. Jim and Doris received the Calgary Stampede Master Farm Family Award.
His commitment to his community was strong. He was active with the Huxley 4H Beef Club, St. Paul’s United Church, Elks of Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion, and the Trochu Seniors Drop-In Centre. Jim’s community service was largely informal, with quiet visits, kind words and a helping hand when needed. He will be remembered by all for his ability to visit with anyone, anytime and his gift of storytelling.
Jim had a zest to travel and saw a remarkable portion of the world. The last trip found Jim, at 94 years of age, enjoying each minute of a two-week Panama Canal Cruise, visiting six countries, and being fascinated by the passage through the lock system.
Jim’s greatest joy was his family. He was thrilled when all 109 members gathered. He cherished his 29 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren – he was happiest with a baby in his arms, either feeding them or gently bouncing them to sleep.
Jim is survived by his cherished wife of 72 years, Doris, his children, brother Thomas and a wealth of extended family. He was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Hazel, brothers Charles, Robert, and John (Jack), sisters Jean and Nancy, his beloved son-in-law Thomas and great-great-grand-daughter Zaria.
A Celebration of Life will take place at the Trochu Community Centre April 16, 2022, at 2 P.M. Arrangements are entrusted to Kneehill Funeral Services. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be directed to St. Mary’s Health Care Centre, St. Paul’s United Church, or Trochu Community Centre.
