Obituary of James Russel Stewart
James Russell Stewart (Papa Jim, Grandpa, Pops)
June 13, 1939 – September 16, 2024 (85 years)
It is with heavy hearts and deepest sorrow, the family of Papa Jim, beloved husband of Delphine Stewart, announces his passing on Monday, September 16th, 2024, at Rose Garden Hospice, Prince Albert, SK.
Papa Jim, so lovingly remembered as papa, grandpa, great grandpa, uncle and pops to his family, passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Papa met and fell in love with the love of his life, Delphine in Prince Albert, SK. Papa married grandma in 2007 in a beautiful wedding held in the backyard of her oldest daughter Wanda’s home surrounded by family and grandchildren that grandma and papa adored in Mission, B.C.
Jim spent many years working at the local Co-op where he worked as a janitor. Papa also spent time working in Quesnel, B.C. in 1966 alongside his brothers Morry, Charlie and Gord. Papa spent the majority of his life living and creating memories with his family in Prince Albert, SK.
He will be lovingly remembered for his sense of humor, his love of fishing, sports, reading and his love of and for his family.
Papa enjoyed many things in life such as fishing, watching a ball game or two or more, attending Raider games where he was a season ticket holder for many years alongside grandma, reading, watching the birds, gardening, and spending time with family on the back deck of the house he helped build and grew up in. Papa spent many Sunday afternoons in his earlier years in the river fishing with his nephew Gordie and would travel once or twice a year to the cabin he jointly owned at Davin Lake.
Papa was an avid ball player in his earlier years as well as a football player in high school, and even coached a ball team, the Shamrocks for 3 years. The team was made up of young ladies under 16. Papa loved sports. He was also an avid fisher, card player, board game player, and dart player. Many Christmases in his earlier years were spent playing road hockey outside followed by the Christmas feast, opening of presents which were often board games followed by the family playing board games for the remainder of Christmas night. Neighbours often would gather at the Stewart household for an evening of cards and darts. Papa and his dad, William looked after the Hazeldell outdoor rink and curling rink where the neighbourhood kids would gather to skate and warm up in the warmup shack. Papa was beloved by the neighbourhood kids who would come to skate at the rink.
The one thing papa loved most though was his family. He loved to sit and talk with his family whether it was around the kitchen table, on the back deck, the coffee meetings him and grandma would go to at A&W or sitting in his chair in the living room. All that mattered to Papa was that he was with his family. He loved to sit around the fire in the backyard on warm nights and talk with anyone who would sit around the fire with him whether it was his kids, his grandchildren, or family members and friends.
Papa will be lovingly remembered by his wife Delphine Stewart, 3 sisters-in-law Myrt Kostiuk, Theresa Azure, and Rose Kozushka; brothers-in-law Nick Wasyliw, his children Wanda Friesen, Anita (Randy) Whitton, Richard (Vicki) Gillies, Jo-Anne (Jerry) Rankin and Brian (Carma) Gillies; special adopted daughters Darla Janzen (Kris), Debbra (Ronnie) Roach and Dee Wall; his 11 grandchildren Sheldon, Kris, Mike, David, Thomas, Kameron, Michael, Jacob, Sarah and Preston, 12 Great -Grandchildren Jeremy, Isis, Kaimera, Dylan, Konnor, Harley, Zeke, Silas, Klara, James, Jade and Parker and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews and special cousin Romey Pilon.
He was pre-deceased by his parents William and Marjorie Stewart, his brothers Morry, Gordon and Charlie Stewart, his sister Loise Ziegler, sisters-in-law, Gertrude Vandale, Agnes Ethier, Jeannette Wasyliw; brothers-in-law, Alban Azure, Fernand Ethier, Eric Priestley and Gordon Vandale and special cousin Doreen Pilon.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Rose Garden Hospice, the Saskatoon Cancer Centre & staff at the Victoria Hospital Chemo Department and papa’s numerous doctors for all the care, kindness and compassion shown to papa and his family during his battle with cancer.
A Private Grave Side Service will be held. In lieu of tributes memorial donations may be directed to the Rose Garden Hospice 500 38th St W, Prince Albert, SK S6W 0A3.
Friends and family wishing to send messages of condolence are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com . Arrangements have been entrusted to Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.
