TWA James

Posted: October 28th, 2013

September 29, 1928-October 8, 2013 With great sadness the family of Jim Twa announces his passing at the Theodore Health Centre, in Saskatchewan on Tuesday, Oct 8.

He was born September 29, 1928 on the family farm near Talbot, Alberta. Jim leaves behind his wife Margaret Lewis; his son Bruce (Darlene) Twa; his daughter Denise (Rob Rittenberg) Wall; his grandchildren Emily (Rob) Reid, Jesse Wall and Murray Wall; his son Craig (Vhine) Twa; and his great granddaughter Evelyn Reid. Jim was predeceased by his sisters Lucy and Emily; his brothers George and Lionel; his wife Marina (Penner) in 2002 and his son-in-law Bob Wall in 2004. Jim grew up during the Depression on his parent’s farm near Talbot, AB. He attended Normal School in Edmonton and began his teaching career as an industrial arts instructor, in Coaldale, where he met and married Marina. He later moved to Lethbridge to teach Industrial Arts at Wilson Junior High and Gilbert Paterson Junior High. He then completed a Masters Degree at Oregon State University. He returned to instruct at the Lethbridge Junior College where was a founding faculty member of the University of Lethbridge. In 1968, he moved his family to Eugene, Oregon to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Oregon. Upon his return to Lethbridge in 1970, he continued teaching in the Faculty of Education at University of Lethbridge. He retired from the University in 1986. Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He combined his love of hiking and hunting to provide freezer full of wild game for his family. He loved horses at every stage of his life from riding a horse to school to riding his Arab horse into his late 70s. Jim built a cabin on St. Mary’s Lake in Montana and the family has many wonderful memories of summers spent water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and riding, as well as making life long friends with other families there. Jim made sure his teenaged family had season passes to Westcastle or Fernie and his passion for skiing lives on in his kids and grandkids. Jim’s green thumb produced a bountiful harvest including the best tomatoes and cucumbers ever. In 1976, Jim purchased a small farm near Raymond and spent happy hours fussing over his hay crops and restoring old John Deere tractors. Jim had an amazing mechanical ability and could fix anything he put his mind to, even fabricating new parts. After retiring, Jim and Marina travelled throughout the US and to many exciting foreign destinations. In 2005, he married Margaret Lewis and in 2008 they purchased a farm near Theodore, Saskatchewan and moved there. He could talk about anything to anybody. Jim leaves a legacy of love for family, zest for learning and for enjoying the great outdoors. A memorial service will be held October 19, at the Lethbridge Mennonite Church, at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society. #402 – 740 – 4th Avenue S, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 0N9.

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  1. Towells Family says:

    Marg we just learned of Jims passing. We are sorry as we truly loved him. Miranda was upset and she always loved to talk with him. Hugs Colin , Marie & Miranda

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