Obituary of Jim Marcinkoski

Jim was born on October 31, 1943 to Ludwig and Louise (Miciak) Marcinkoski in Viking, Alberta and passed away at the Royal Alexandra Hospital ICU in Edmonton, Alberta on January 29, 2016. Jim was raised on a farm north of Strome where he attended Willow School. He finished Grade 11 and decided to help with the farm when his father fell ill. He carried his passion for farming his entire life. In his younger years, Jim enjoyed riding horses, calf-roping, and the rodeo scene. On May 2, 1981 Jim married the girl across the road, Irene (Vass) at Polska Church. They were blessed with four daughters, Heather, Jennifer, Heidi and Amber. As the girls grew up he was actively involved with restarting the Wavy Lake 4-H Beef Club in Strome and showing his purebred Charolais cattle across Canada. Jim enjoyed time with family, friends and neighbours, Bruce Stampede, America's Funniest Home Videos and watching a variety of sports - whether it was his girls or grandchildren playing, or professional on TV. Jim found great joy in all his grandchildren and loved having visits with them. Jim will always be remembered for his great sense of humour, his determination in completing any task and his joy in his family. He was always eager to chat with friends and neighbours, from discussing the weather to sharing new found jokes. Jim was proud of his girls and the lives they had created for themselves. In 1999, Jim was diagnosed with Lupus and though its challenges arose, he was still able to be on the farm and enjoy family and friends. Jim began to receive dialysis treatments in 2014 at the Vegreville Dialysis Clinic where he made more friends and enjoyed being a jokester with the nurses. Jim was admitted to the ICU at the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he was called home with family by his side on January 29, 2016. Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife Irene; daughters Heather (Ryan) Bratrud and their children Parker, Makenzie, Tuf and Tate, Jennifer (Clint) Hamilton and their children Cole, Ceejay and Kylee, Heidi (Bonnie) Marcinkoski and Amber (Landon) Gall; his siblings Ken (Darlene Brash), Audrey Hazard and Bob (Wendy); his aunts Helen Fischer, Lorraine Hintz, Steffie Miciak and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Waiting to welcome him home are his parents Ludwig and Louise, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Prayer services were held on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 7 pm from the Burgar Memorial Chapel in Camrose. A Mass of Christian Burial was held from Holy Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Viking on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 11:00 am with Father Leon Kler as Celebrant. Interment has taken place at the Polska Cemetery near Holden. Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Polska Church Fund or to the Renal Program care of St. Joseph's Hospital, 5241-43 Street, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1R5.