July 8, 1938 Didsbury, AB – August 8, 2024 Calgary, AB
Jim Gole died unexpectedly in the Foothills Medical Centre at the age of 86, of complications from heart surgery.
He is survived by Susan, his best friend and wife of 41 years, his twin brother Herb (Donna), his sister-in-law Eunice, his loving children Jan (Greg), Dan (R’Nee), Paul (Val), Jolene, Kimberly (Andrew), and his amazing mother-in-law Joan Graham. Jim was blessed with sixteen grandchildren who always brought a smile to his face and laughter into his life: Ryley (Julia), Cale, Jesse, Jay, Tony (Tasha), Jean, Andraya, Joshua, Ethan, Peyton, Ryanne, Hunter, Lincoln, Charlie, Emmett, and Poppy, and four special great-grandchildren, Easton, Bexley, Stetson and Sloan, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was predeceased by his parents Allen and Annie Gole, his brother Stan, sisters Grace, Ruth and Barbara, his wife Bev and son Jason.
Jim lived in Didsbury his entire life and worked with his father and brothers in the family feed business, Gole & Sons Producers Ltd. In 1999 Jim and Susan started Cowlick Minerals Ltd., in Innisfail, AB, manufacturing custom minerals and feeds for the beef industry, including their own line of registered products. Jim was a familiar face in the countryside delivering feed and making sales calls with Dice, his faithful dalmatian, riding shotgun. In 2019 they sold Cowlick Minerals Ltd. to the Wetaskiwin Co-op Ltd. and Jim continued for an additional two years as a nutritional consultant and salesman. He had a wealth of knowledge about cattle feeding and willingly shared it with many grateful producers.
Jim was active in sports, playing hockey for the Didsbury Ramblers, fastball with the Rosebud and Didsbury Jets, slow pitch with the Didsbury Rebels, then coaching and volunteering with minor sports when his children were in hockey and ball. In his later years he enjoyed his many games of golf at the Didsbury Golf Club, which enabled him to add to his massive collection of found golf balls.
Actively involved in the community, Jim served on the Didsbury Town Council for four terms (twelve years from 1976 to 1988), and sitting on or chairing virtually every committee, with the Recreation Board being his favorite. During this time period some of the major accomplishments of council were, securing the land for the sewer lagoons, buying land for the existing town nuisance grounds, the Didsbury Memorial Complex, curling rink and swimming pool were built replacing the old memorial arena after it burnt down, the new hospital opened, the now “old” town office and shop were built, and the water reservoir on the butte was put up.
He was president of Didsbury Golf Club for two years when the existing greens on holes number 5 and 6 were developed, and was the Town’s representative on the 1983 Summer Games Executive Committee, in charge of Safety and Communications. In this role, Jim was instrumental in the building of the running track and the ball diamonds west of the Ross Ford School. The Summer Games were a four-year commitment of time and involvement for Jim and his family and they made many lasting friendships during this time.
The family would like to thank son-in-law Greg, niece Janine and grandson Cale for sharing with us their vast medical knowledge and expertise, and the staff of Unit 103A Cardiac ICU for the exceptional care given to Jim in his final days.
At his request there will not be a funeral but a private family gathering will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to a local sport organization of your choice. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be made or viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com
