Obituary for Jim Turner
The family of the late James “Jim” Turner is devastated at his passing on Tuesday, September 21st, 2021. Jim leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Wendy; and three sons, Jason, Steve (Sandra), and Justin (Jen); as well as seven beloved grandchildren, Eric, Rebecca, Patrick, Alexander, Matthew, Mark, and Katherine. Also mourning his passing are his mother, Helen Turner; two brothers, Gary (Lorna) and Doug (Elaine), and his sister, Audrey (Calvin) Becker; as well as nieces and nephew, Kelley (Josh), Brandon (Keltie), Sonja (Ryan), and Brittney (Ryan), and their families; as well as numerous cousins.
Jim was predeceased by his father, Joshua Turner; a sister Shirley; as well as Wendy’s parents.
Jim was born in Medicine Hat on October 18th, 1948 and raised on a farm west of Hilda, where he began his schooling. At the age of 15 he moved to Medicine Hat to complete his high school and began his working career with Woolworths. Jim was transferred to Portage la Prairie for further training before being transferred to Woolworths in Swift Current. It was here he met Wendy and they were married on October 12th, 1968. This career would take Jim and his family to many locations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as he moved up the ranks to Assistant Manager, which he achieved in his early 20’s. In 1978, Jim decided it was time to open a business of his own. He moved his family to Shaunavon and opened Turner’s Department Store, which he and Wendy operated for 12 years. During this time Jim was very active with the Kinsmen club. In 1988, Jim and his best friend Bruce VanRaalte decided over pizza that since they both liked food, maybe they should open a restaurant. JBs Restaurant was born and is still open today. Saskatoon became home for the next few years where he worked in sales; followed by moves to Lethbridge where Jim began his grocery career; and then to Canmore where he managed the Sobey’s Store. In 1998, Jim decided it was time to return home to Medicine Hat. He and Wendy opened Sobey’s Cornerstone which they operated for 13 years. Jim became actively involved in his community, some of the highlights include: his love of baseball, which led to his involvement with the Maverick Baseball Team; celebrating the new century in 2000, by supplying the fireworks for the New Years Eve celebration; raising money for the Medicine Hat Food Bank, by tenting on the roof of the Sobey’s, something he did for several years; joining the Lions Clubs and spending many stampedes flipping burgers in the heat; assisting with the breakfast program at Elm Street School; and donating and helping out many, many small local charities and non-profit organizations. Community was important to Jim, and it was equally important that the money he donated stay local to help local people. The Sobeys years allowed Jim and Wendy to take many corporate trips to China, Hawaii, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Mexico and a Mediterranean cruise for their 40th anniversary. Following his retirement from Sobey’s, Jim became the Executive Director for the Medicine Hat & District Food Bank, and was instrumental in the beginning of the Brown Bag Lunch program. Jim was always interested in current events and politics, deciding in 2013 to run for a City of Medicine Hat council position. Serving two successful terms on council and being part of numerous committees and boards, was a task not taken lightly. Jim worked very hard at his council position, spending many hours reading not just the pre council meeting packages but numerous other sources for current information to be up on what was happening not only in his community, but the country and world. His hours of research from a variety of sources were important in each, and every decision he made. Jim was also employed as VP of Corporate Affairs and Administration for the Monarch Corporation and was President of Alternative Farming Solutions.
Above all Jim was a family man, loving the time he was able to spend with his beloved grandchildren, talking with them about their interests, their careers, their opinions on current events and about their lives in general. He supported his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law in all their endeavours and was always there to lend a hand whenever they needed it, from moving, to renovations, to career moves, he was their rock. Jim loved spending time in his garden, starting his own plants and nurturing them until harvest. He was always looking for creative ways to grow and produce more and better plants. Jim loved nothing better than being able to brag at Sunday morning family coffee that he had his first ripe tomato. Jim was an avid fisherman, a skill which began at an early age as a family pastime with his parents and siblings. This passion continued with his annual fishing trips over the past almost twenty-five years with his brothers, fishing on some lake or river in Saskatchewan or Southern Alberta, of course he always caught the most and the biggest. He loved that he was able to teach his fishing talents to some of his grandsons.
Jim will be remembered for his honesty, his integrity, his dedication, his hard work ethic, his sense of community, his passions-politics, fishing, and gardening, and especially his love for his family.
The family would like to thank all those who have reached out on social media to offer their condolences and support during this time. In keeping with Jim wishes, a private family time of remembrance will be held. Those wishing to remember and honour Jim’s legacy of making our community a better place may do so with the gift to the Medicine Hat Food Bank or any local service organization.
Jim was predeceased by his father, Joshua Turner; a sister Shirley; as well as Wendy’s parents.
Jim was born in Medicine Hat on October 18th, 1948 and raised on a farm west of Hilda, where he began his schooling. At the age of 15 he moved to Medicine Hat to complete his high school and began his working career with Woolworths. Jim was transferred to Portage la Prairie for further training before being transferred to Woolworths in Swift Current. It was here he met Wendy and they were married on October 12th, 1968. This career would take Jim and his family to many locations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as he moved up the ranks to Assistant Manager, which he achieved in his early 20’s. In 1978, Jim decided it was time to open a business of his own. He moved his family to Shaunavon and opened Turner’s Department Store, which he and Wendy operated for 12 years. During this time Jim was very active with the Kinsmen club. In 1988, Jim and his best friend Bruce VanRaalte decided over pizza that since they both liked food, maybe they should open a restaurant. JBs Restaurant was born and is still open today. Saskatoon became home for the next few years where he worked in sales; followed by moves to Lethbridge where Jim began his grocery career; and then to Canmore where he managed the Sobey’s Store. In 1998, Jim decided it was time to return home to Medicine Hat. He and Wendy opened Sobey’s Cornerstone which they operated for 13 years. Jim became actively involved in his community, some of the highlights include: his love of baseball, which led to his involvement with the Maverick Baseball Team; celebrating the new century in 2000, by supplying the fireworks for the New Years Eve celebration; raising money for the Medicine Hat Food Bank, by tenting on the roof of the Sobey’s, something he did for several years; joining the Lions Clubs and spending many stampedes flipping burgers in the heat; assisting with the breakfast program at Elm Street School; and donating and helping out many, many small local charities and non-profit organizations. Community was important to Jim, and it was equally important that the money he donated stay local to help local people. The Sobeys years allowed Jim and Wendy to take many corporate trips to China, Hawaii, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Mexico and a Mediterranean cruise for their 40th anniversary. Following his retirement from Sobey’s, Jim became the Executive Director for the Medicine Hat & District Food Bank, and was instrumental in the beginning of the Brown Bag Lunch program. Jim was always interested in current events and politics, deciding in 2013 to run for a City of Medicine Hat council position. Serving two successful terms on council and being part of numerous committees and boards, was a task not taken lightly. Jim worked very hard at his council position, spending many hours reading not just the pre council meeting packages but numerous other sources for current information to be up on what was happening not only in his community, but the country and world. His hours of research from a variety of sources were important in each, and every decision he made. Jim was also employed as VP of Corporate Affairs and Administration for the Monarch Corporation and was President of Alternative Farming Solutions.
Above all Jim was a family man, loving the time he was able to spend with his beloved grandchildren, talking with them about their interests, their careers, their opinions on current events and about their lives in general. He supported his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law in all their endeavours and was always there to lend a hand whenever they needed it, from moving, to renovations, to career moves, he was their rock. Jim loved spending time in his garden, starting his own plants and nurturing them until harvest. He was always looking for creative ways to grow and produce more and better plants. Jim loved nothing better than being able to brag at Sunday morning family coffee that he had his first ripe tomato. Jim was an avid fisherman, a skill which began at an early age as a family pastime with his parents and siblings. This passion continued with his annual fishing trips over the past almost twenty-five years with his brothers, fishing on some lake or river in Saskatchewan or Southern Alberta, of course he always caught the most and the biggest. He loved that he was able to teach his fishing talents to some of his grandsons.
Jim will be remembered for his honesty, his integrity, his dedication, his hard work ethic, his sense of community, his passions-politics, fishing, and gardening, and especially his love for his family.
The family would like to thank all those who have reached out on social media to offer their condolences and support during this time. In keeping with Jim wishes, a private family time of remembrance will be held. Those wishing to remember and honour Jim’s legacy of making our community a better place may do so with the gift to the Medicine Hat Food Bank or any local service organization.