James Martens

MR. JAMES ""JIM"" JACOB MARTENS of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Mrs. Barbara Martens, passed away on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at the age of 94 years.

Born on March 24, 1918 in Saskatchewan where he was raised and educated. When the war broke out, he joined the army and served overseas in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

After the war he married Barbara Garrett and settled in Lethbridge and raised three children Sherry, Jimmy and Laurie. He worked in No. 8 Mine, followed by CPR then crash and rescue for the Air Force in Lethbridge for six years. In 1960 - 1964 he went to Edmonton and served with American SAC as Chief of Crash and Rescue. Following that he went to Whitehorse, Yukon as Chief of Emergency Services for Department of Public Works. The Station closed in 1973 and he moved to Lethbridge and worked for the Alberta Government as co-coordinator of the Livestock Water Program Engineering Field Service Branch. He retired in 1983.

Jim was very active until the last few years of his life. He had a passion for the outdoors; boating, fishing, wildlife watching, snow mobiling, skiing and hiking. Jim was always reading and he passed this love of reading and lifelong learning on to his children. As a Grandpa he was so proud of his granddaughters musical, educational and creative pursuits. Grandpa drove ""all over the country"" to watch his grandsons play hockey, baseball and soccer.

Jim leaves one son Jim of Whitehorse, Yukon; two daughters Sherry (Gary) Bonham of Whitehorse, Yukon and Laurie (Peter) Lavorato of Fort Macleod; two granddaughters Tannis and Laura Bonham of Whitehorse, Yukon; two grandsons Michael and Luke Lavorato of Fort Macleod; one sister Helen Nicoll; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families. Jim is predeceased by his parents, sisters Ann, Betty and Jessie, brothers Abe, Neil, John, Frank and Henry, George and Pete.

He will be sadly missed by those who loved him.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at ST. BASIL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 - 13 Street North, Lethbridge, with Father Tim Boyle celebrant.